oil pressure at idle

BackintheFold · 05-09-19, 01:32 PM

I'm struggling to find what the idling oil pressure is supposed to be on the 2.2 MB ur.
Does anyone have a link to where i can find out, or does anyone know the official figure please?
Also, does anyone know the real-world figure, that is, what the pressure actually is for a warm engine?
Thanks!

tractor Dave · 05-09-19, 01:47 PM

Not sure but looked over on the S2 Forum and the general consensus is around 2bar hot is good.
Slightly less is acceptable on a worn engine.
What oil are you using? If you are getting a low reading it might be that your oil is too thin.
These older engines don't like modern thin oils.

Audi stan · 05-09-19, 04:58 PM

Mine is at max when above idle and around the 2.5 Mark when warm at idle.

BackintheFold · 06-09-19, 09:00 AM

Thought id responded...weird...
mine is around 1.8 bar at idle, sometimes-often its more, but i know the oil i'm using is thin as I'm using it as a flush for the first tankful of petrol.

From memory, 2 bar at idle is very good! I'd expect 1.5-2 (20-30 psi)

I'll replace with something a little thicker soon. I also need to check my lilac wire at the back of the oil pressure relay, as my buzzer should only go off over 2,000 RPM (or so im told!)

mikes2 · 06-09-19, 11:54 AM

1.8 bar at warm idle is fine especially on a higher mileage engine

Colin Aitchison · 07-09-19, 04:19 AM

I'm with Mike, 1.8 bar at idle with a hot engine is around the norm, you are looking for the pressure to rise to above 4.0 bar in 5th gear at 2000 rpm when driving, when driving the engine hard the oil pressure should rise even more, now onto oil, you will get many different views on what oil to use, I don't use modern type oils as these oils were not about when this car was new, stay away from 0w30 and 5w30 oils stick to 10w40 or even 20w50,
photo below of WR engine owner manual, you will notice at the bottom left the VW standard oil specification of 500.00. Also gearbox and rear differential oil specification on the top right that may be the same for your car, please ignore the power steering fluid specification as I am certain it is different for your car.

06-09-19, 11:54 AM	#5
mikes2 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Polmont Posts: 2,617	1.8 bar at warm idle is fine especially on a higher mileage engine __________________ 1991 90 quattro 20v sport 1991 90 quattro

05-09-19, 01:47 PM	#2
tractor Dave Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Wales Posts: 1,174	Not sure but looked over on the S2 Forum and the general consensus is around 2bar hot is good. Slightly less is acceptable on a worn engine. What oil are you using? If you are getting a low reading it might be that your oil is too thin. These older engines don't like modern thin oils.

05-09-19, 04:58 PM	#3
Audi stan Grown up member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 36	Mine is at max when above idle and around the 2.5 Mark when warm at idle.

06-09-19, 09:00 AM	#4
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,197	Thought id responded...weird... mine is around 1.8 bar at idle, sometimes-often its more, but i know the oil i'm using is thin as I'm using it as a flush for the first tankful of petrol. From memory, 2 bar at idle is very good! I'd expect 1.5-2 (20-30 psi) I'll replace with something a little thicker soon. I also need to check my lilac wire at the back of the oil pressure relay, as my buzzer should only go off over 2,000 RPM (or so im told!)

07-09-19, 04:19 AM	#6
Colin Aitchison Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Back home in Tillicoultry Posts: 1,344	I'm with Mike, 1.8 bar at idle with a hot engine is around the norm, you are looking for the pressure to rise to above 4.0 bar in 5th gear at 2000 rpm when driving, when driving the engine hard the oil pressure should rise even more, now onto oil, you will get many different views on what oil to use, I don't use modern type oils as these oils were not about when this car was new, stay away from 0w30 and 5w30 oils stick to 10w40 or even 20w50, photo below of WR engine owner manual, you will notice at the bottom left the VW standard oil specification of 500.00. Also gearbox and rear differential oil specification on the top right that may be the same for your car, please ignore the power steering fluid specification as I am certain it is different for your car.