flashing oil light

[Kent McLean]

Livolsi, Stephane writes:
 > All of my experience with oil warning lights (various makes/models) have
 > been 'If it's on when the engine is running - shut the engine off NOW, and
 > maybe you didn't do TOO much damage'

I wouldn't recommend this as a standard operating procedure,
but here's what happened to me.  About a month ago the oil
warning light on my Type 44 (MC engine) came on. I was little
less than a mile (1.6KM) from home. The oil pressure gauge
showed 0 bar. Frustrated with my Audi, I continued home,
listening for any loud knocking noises and keeping an eye on
the temperature gauges.

Once home, I checked the dipstick -- it was dry. An investigation
showed that an cooler hose had separated from the adapter pipe
at the ferule (clamp). Oh, oh.

The car sat for a month while I pondered the situation. I ended
up replacing the oil cooler and hoses for the second time (see
http://www.mindspring.com/~kentmclean).  I added four quarts
of oil and started it up.  The engine made some ugly noises while
oil filled the empty passages, but eventually it quieted down.

I don't know how many miles I took off the engine's potential
life span, but I didn't kill it (yet).  Note that the engine *had*
100% synthetic oil in it when the incident occurred.

"Don't try this at home."

Kent
'89 200 TQ, the aptly named "Bad Puppy"