Audi S5 Oil Warning Lights Signal Possible Contamination

After seeing similar symptoms on my 2011 Audi S4, I discovered the oil pressure warning was indeed related to contaminated engine oil. The engine had developed oil sludge buildup due to extended maintenance intervals. The oil color was dark brown with visible particles when checked, indicating serious contamination. The warning lights appeared intermittently at first, just like your situation. Running the engine in this condition risks severe engine damage if not addressed quickly. The fix required: Complete engine oil flush, New oil filter, Fresh synthetic oil change, Oil pressure sensor replacement, Cleaning of oil passages The issue was serious, as sludge buildup had started restricting oil flow in critical engine components. The intermittent warnings typically indicate the oil pressure is dropping below safe levels during operation. Recommend getting this checked immediately, as running with low oil pressure can cause catastrophic engine damage. The symptoms match classic oil contamination issues common in these engines when maintenance schedules are exceeded. Do not drive the car until properly inspected, as sudden engine failure is possible under these conditions.

Thanks for sharing that experience. I had almost identical symptoms with my S5 last year. Those oil pressure warnings are definitely not something to ignore. The oil sludge buildup was causing similar intermittent pressure drops for me too. Curious, do you recall roughly how much the complete fix cost you? My repair needed an oil system flush, new sensor and full synthetic oil change. Would be helpful to compare costs. Also, has your car been running smoothly since the repair or did you notice any other issues pop up afterwards? Makes me wonder if these oil pressure problems are a common thing on these engines when the oil additives start breaking down and creating deposits.

Got the repairs done last month actually. The oil contamination issue was completely resolved after the service, and the warning lights havent returned since. Total cost came to 165 Euro which covered the maintenance interval fix including the full system flush, sensor replacement and fresh synthetic oil with new filter. The car runs perfectly smooth now, no engine damage occurred since I caught the oil sludge problem early. The oil pressure stays consistent even during hard acceleration. The mechanic mentioned these engines are quite sensitive to oil contamination when service intervals are stretched, which can lead to sludge buildup affecting oil flow. The key was addressing it quickly before the restricted oil flow could cause more serious issues. Regular oil analysis now shows no signs of contamination or breakdown of oil additives. These engines seem to perform great when maintained on schedule with quality oil.

Thanks for the input. I finally got my S5 sorted last week. Took it to a different mechanic who spotted the issue right away. The oil pressure warning was exactly what you described, contaminated engine oil causing pressure drops. The repair involved a complete oil system flush, new oil filter installation and premium synthetic oil change. Total bill came to 220 Euro which included replacing a faulty pressure sensor. Worth every cent considering the risk of engine damage. Car runs like new now. No more warning lights and the engine feels much smoother. The mechanic showed me the old oil which was seriously contaminated with metal particles and sludge. Really glad I didnt wait any longer to get it fixed. Learned my lesson about sticking to proper oil change intervals and using quality oil additives. Going to keep a much closer eye on maintenance schedules from now on. The peace of mind is definitely worth the regular service cost.