Oil Pressure Light occasionally come on

HILLHUGGR

MEMBER
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
1.8L
3 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
216,000 MILES

Been working through some issue with this Passat. Car is running pretty good. Uses very little oil.

When you punch the accelerator pedal hard to accelerate the warning light for oil pressure comes on.

I'm thinking either the oil pump isn't producing enough oil pressure or we have a faulty oil pressure sending unit.

It would be failry easy to replace the sending unit. I'm guessing to replace the oil pump the engine has to come out. Is that true?

What are your thoughts on this issue?

4 Replies

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello, I'm Danny
Before dropping the oil pan I would suggest hooking up an oil pressure gauge in the sending units location to see what kind of pressure the oil pump is producing. You don't have to take the engine out to remove the oil pan.I can attach step-by-step pictures on how to drop the oil pan if you're interested.I would check the oil pressure first though.I've attached the oil pressure specification below. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

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Sunday, January 6th, 2019 AT 8:04 PM

HILLHUGGR

MEMBER
13 POSTS

Danny,
Thanks for your help. After posting my question, I found a YouTube video of a VW Passat with the same engine and symptom. In his case, the oil pickup was clogged. I would appreciate the instructions you have on dropping the pan.

Tom

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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 9:19 AM

HILLHUGGR

MEMBER
13 POSTS

Danny, Do you know what size threads are needed at the end of the pressure gauge hose to thread into the VW engine?

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Monday, January 7th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello again.

I've found out that the early year 2001 is threaded and the later month 2001 is a different style. If yours is early the threads are 10mm x 1.0 thread pitch. Also, below I've attached below the step-by-step instructions on removing the oil pan. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

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