I blew my Golf 5 GTI’s Engine!

Then you check your log file and do some changes and do your next run. Once you get the settings where you think they need to do 3 runs after one another. This way you will be certain that you don’t get heat soak that will influence the knock count. If your knock count does increase you will drop one of your settings by 1 point and redo the test.

Having to much fun isn’t good.

I was busy with my last logs to confirm that the settings I have adjusted to all ok. On my last log run, I started with the log and I saw Golf 6 GTI sitting behind me. He was so close that I could not see his light in my mirror. Instead of tapping off at the end of the run I just kept going. I was already like two to 3 car lengths in front of the Golf 6 GTI.

In the next gear, I even pulled more out underneath him. This was fun. The was a roundabout on this road and I was approaching it very quickly. I tapped off and started to brake hard. I left this road via the roundabout and as I exited the roundabout I heard a loud beep sound. There was a cold feeling going over my body as I looked down. The message on the info screen told me that the oil pressure was low and I need to switch off the engine.

Now I was in a panic. What did I break now? Was it a bearing that was failing or is the oil pump gone on the car. I didn’t drive it any harder than I usually drive the car. What could it be? I pulled over to the side of the road and switched the car off. Maybe the oil was a bit hot, so I let the car stand a few minutes. I then started the car up and the message was gone. Thinking that may have been the issue I pulled away and the message popped up again. As I was just around the corner of my house I limped the car home.

What could the issue be?

Now I was completely stressed out. How much is this going to cost me now? Will this be an engine rebuild or just a new oil pump. I started looking on the internet at prices for the oil pump. I almost fell off my chair, it is an expensive part as it houses the balance shafts as well.

I couldn’t find any info of these pumps failing and that stressed me out even more. It started to look like it is going to be a full engine rebuilt. I spoke to one of my friends and he told me that a guy he knows had a similar issue a few months back. I contacted the guy and he told me I must remove the sump and inspect the oil pickup. As my engine had done approximately 200 000km it was a good time to take the sump off and inspect the pickup.

Every engine has an oil filter to filter out all the debris that could be in the engine oil. This keeps the oil nice and particle-free into the engine. On the inlet of the pump, there is a strainer that stops particles bigger than a certain size from enting the pump. If the particles are bigger than a certain size they could damage the pump. The filter is after the pump so the only protection the pump has is the strainer.

So what did I see taking the sump off?

I decided there is nothing to lose by stripping off the sump. The oil I drained out the engine wasn’t the cleanest and but the engine wasn’t due for an oil change for another 5000km. I started servicing the car myself and I used Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 Full Synthetic. I am not a big fan of the oil VW uses in the cars, it becomes dirty very quickly.