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Discussion starter · #401 ·
pjhemming said:
About the oil light coming on and indicating oil level too high - dealer reports there is technical bulletin on the problem that says it's the result of the oil condensation, which effectively raises the oil level slightly triggering the oil light. Issue reportedly happens more frequently after many short trips. Dealer says problem is harmless. The fix I'd told is more frequent oil changes, which VW will cover. Don't think that's really a fix though.
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Oil condensation? This is something new. My dealer replaced both (hood and oil) sensors and I still get the occasional level too high or too low warnings. To reset it I usually open/close the hood which helps for a few weeks or so. As far as oil changes I do mine every 5k miles anyway.
 
#402 ·
pjhemming said:
About the oil light coming on and indicating oil level too high - dealer reports there is technical bulletin on the problem that says it's the result of the oil condensation, which effectively raises the oil level slightly triggering the oil light. Issue reportedly happens more frequently after many short trips. Dealer says problem is harmless. The fix I'd told is more frequent oil changes, which VW will cover. Don't think that's really a fix though.
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So they are covering the additional oil changes during the regular free maintenance program or via the warranty, and does that only apply to vehicles having the issue?
 
#403 ·
Via the warranty. Guessing it would only apply when the oil level light comes one. Distance between an oil change and the light coming back on was around 1000-2000 miles. The dealer tech noted the oil level was slightly overfilled last change. Hoping the problem is now in the past.
 
Discussion starter · #404 ·
pjhemming said:
Via the warranty. Guessing it would only apply when the oil level light comes one. Distance between an oil change and the light coming back on was around 1000-2000 miles. The dealer tech noted the oil level was slightly overfilled last change. Hoping the problem is now in the past.
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Well, I hope your engine is not "making oil". Some engines "make oil" by dumping too much fuel into the oil which causes an overfill. If that's the case then your oil will become useless in a few thousand miles and can harm your engine. If I were you I'd keep a close eye on the oil level, in fact I'd send a sample to a Black Stone for an analysis.

If too much fuel (over 2%) is present then:
A- You're not letting your engine run hot enough to burn out an excess fuel and water.
B- You didn't break in your engine properly to seat the rings.
C- Combination of all of the above.

For starters I'd suggest you push your engine hard a few times a week. If that didn't help you would probably need to see your dealer and may possibly need new rings. In any case having oil changed every few thousand miles (be it under warranty or not) is not right.

I personally did a hard break in when I bought it new and I also let my engine get hot enough (occasionally drive in S on freeway) and so far I am not burning nor making any oil. In fact all of my oil analysis so far are looking as good as they can for a hybrid.
 
#405 ·
Bring it back to dealer tomorrow. Too much oil light came on again 140 miles after service. Suspecting hybrid doesn't like cold MN weather (extremly frigid January), which prevents engine from getting up to full temp. on anything under 5-10 miles.
 
#406 ·
Not a satisfying report back from VW/dealer. They say the issue is short trips and engine not hot enough to burn off fuel in oil and fuel/condensation creates over full reading. They claim recommended engine oil volume on this engine will change from 6.7 quarts to 6 and they'll do some more software updates in future to address it. Tech line told dealer add 6 quarts then release vehicle. Completely unsatisfied and told dealer this was done to avoid tripping the over fill sensor again and that's it not a fix. They say a VW engineer will visit next time it happens. Told them its less likely to happen now that they under filled the resovoir. Level reads at minimum line now. I'm concerned they are merely masking the problem by trying to avoid an overfill sensor trip and that excess fuel could build up in the oil. Could use some advice on approaching VW/what to do. Another hybrid was also there with same problem. And another local hybrid was refunded completely and exchanged for a different model after 6 unsuccessful repair attempts towards end of last year. Help please.
 
#407 ·
I am wondering if they are actually putting to much oil in to begin with....

I also make have a short commute each day 6 miles each way and rarely ever get to normal operating temp when it is 40 and below outside....unless I am really hard on it. It now has 10,500 miles and I have followed the factory recommended schedule since new and it has never read anything other than max/normal fill on the oil.

The good news is other than being annoying the engine is covered for 10yr or 100,000 miles even if this not so bright idea is VW's proposed solution.
 
Discussion starter · #408 ·
pjhemming said:
Not a satisfying report back from VW/dealer. They say the issue is short trips and engine not hot enough to burn off fuel in oil and fuel/condensation creates over full reading. They claim recommended engine oil volume on this engine will change from 6.7 quarts to 6 and they'll do some more software updates in future to address it. Tech line told dealer add 6 quarts then release vehicle. Completely unsatisfied and told dealer this was done to avoid tripping the over fill sensor again and that's it not a fix. They say a VW engineer will visit next time it happens. Told them its less likely to happen now that they under filled the resovoir. Level reads at minimum line now. I'm concerned they are merely masking the problem by trying to avoid an overfill sensor trip and that excess fuel could build up in the oil. Could use some advice on approaching VW/what to do. Another hybrid was also there with same problem. And another local hybrid was refunded completely and exchanged for a different model after 6 unsuccessful repair attempts towards end of last year. Help please.
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This was expected :rolleyes:. As far as an advise, see my post above. This goes for any engine, except in out case (hybrid) it is twice as hard to burn off gas/water due to engine's on/off cycles. Run your engine in "S" mode on a freeway for 20-30 min to prevent it from shutting down and let it warm up and do it's job.
 
#409 ·
Two months since trip to dealer on oil light issue. Hasn't come back. What's interesting is that after the "fix" - 6 quarts on change instead of something like 6.7 - my oil level still has consistantly read at the top level of the electronic gage since the change. The dealer mentioned something about VW doing a software change to account for the 6 quarts VW said to put in versus 6.7. Wondering if the that change is being becoming widespread. Dealer said VW was in process of changing recommended oil volume on the hybrid. Also, I made sure to drive occassionally drive in the S mode on 20 plus minute highway trips. I'm sure that helped too.

One question about tires. Can anyone recommend all seasons that do well in well in northern climates. The factory Michelon Latitudes Tour HPs are terrible in winters - very, very poor in snow/ice/rain here IMO (mine have 15k now). I will not run them next winter - not good lateral stability and hydroplaned on a wet road a couple weeks ago (never had that happen before). Tire options on 265/50/19 look very limited. Would like to avoid changing rubber twice a year for snow tires or getting additional rims. Will do so if I must. More tires I like in other 19 sizes but am hestitant to change size as well.
 
Discussion starter · #410 ·
pjhemming said:
Two months since trip to dealer on oil light issue. Hasn't come back. What's interesting is that after the "fix" - 6 quarts on change instead of something like 6.7 - my oil level still has consistantly read at the top level of the electronic gage since the change. The dealer mentioned something about VW doing a software change to account for the 6 quarts VW said to put in versus 6.7. Wondering if the that change is being becoming widespread. Dealer said VW was in process of changing recommended oil volume on the hybrid. Also, I made sure to drive occassionally drive in the S mode on 20 plus minute highway trips. I'm sure that helped too.

One question about tires. Can anyone recommend all seasons that do well in well in northern climates. The factory Michelon Latitudes Tour HPs are terrible in winters - very, very poor in snow/ice/rain here IMO (mine have 15k now). I will not run them next winter - not good lateral stability and hydroplaned on a wet road a couple weeks ago (never had that happen before). Tire options on 265/50/19 look very limited. Would like to avoid changing rubber twice a year for snow tires or getting additional rims. Will do so if I must. More tires I like in other 19 sizes but am hestitant to change size as well.
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The oil capacity of a hybrid is almost 8.6 quarts. Where did they get the 6 quarts figure from? Do yourself a favor and invest $25 into a dipstick, believe me it is well worth it.
 
#411 ·
The service invoice says the oil was weighed and also "called tech line back and was advised to add 6 quarts of oil to vehicle with new oil filter" No idea how tech line figured 6 quarts or if it's typo on invoice. Later wouldn't surpise me.

Dipstick the one you posted a link to earlier in thread? I'm going to order one. What is there now on the sleeve - a plug?
 
#413 ·
Received the very first low oil warning on mine today even though for 12,000 miles it always read full and never fluctuated once. Dealer had VTA remotely connect and diagnose the car. Here is what mine stated on the work order:

Tech line performed teleadiagnosis and updated ECM, Hybrid Battery Management and Electronic Drive Modules using SVM update process. Drained and replaced engine oil and filter. Test drove vehicle to verify proper operation.

I will have to say the hybrid system seems even more seamless and smoother than ever before.
 
#414 ·
Well day two I am very intrigued about the updates that were performed. As mentioned before the transitions between the modes have greatly improved, but the engine and electric performance has improved too! The T3H seems as if they unleashed an extra 50-75HP requiring less mashing of the go pedal. Naturally, I am very pleased with the updates!!

Has anyone else had updates to these modules or just oil changes and sensor replacements?
 
Discussion starter · #415 ·
ecupip said:
Well day two I am very intrigued about the updates that were performed. As mentioned before the transitions between the modes have greatly improved, but the engine and electric performance has improved too! The T3H seems as if they unleashed an extra 50-75HP requiring less mashing of the go pedal. Naturally, I am very pleased with the updates!!

Has anyone else had updates to these modules or just oil changes and sensor replacements?
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Good to know. Would you be able to post a photo of your work order showing what was done exactly.

Thanks in advance.
 
Discussion starter · #417 ·
Great, Thanks!

I just can't understand what does ECM and electric drive module have to do with an oil level? Did you complain about anything else besides oil level playing games on you? I'd love to get that update and get more kick out of the hybrid system :)
 
#418 ·
My guess is it has something to do when they asked what my driving percentages were and reprogrammed for mostly city driving.

Who knows maybe mine wasn't up to snuff and the update just made it normal again...but something definitely helped and I can feel a big difference.
 
#420 ·
Have a message in my dealer about the software update. My dipstick arrived today. Reads right at the min. level, which I suspect means 1 quart or liter low. (Electronic readout reads at right at the max. level). That's not surprising because the dealer previously reported tech line said to add less than specified oil volume when last in a couple months ago. But something is odd. If service ticket is accurate, when oil last changed they added 6 quarts versus 8.6 but the dipstick certainly doesn't read 2.6 quarts low. Attaching my prior service ticket from a couple months ago, when the electronic readout last read too much oil.
 

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