Short journeys and Cali's

[temporarysecretary]

Oooh. Given these engines sit between 2k and 2.5k most of the time that seems low, especially for a diesel with its high compression loads? VW must know what they’re doing?

If I saw 28psi on a gauge at 70mph I’d be pulling over sharpish to investigate!!

On a DSG it spends most of the time sub 2k. Especially as so many roads are average speed camera <50Mph

Im surrounded by roads that you are stuck at a steady 40mph at all times and a DSG will sit in 7th at 1200 revs lugging the engine. I hated it so much that I got the gearbox remapped so it will stick to 5th at 40 doing around 1800-2000. This feels much better.

I dont know what PSI is good or bad. Ive just seen people with more knowledge than me say its a problem on this engine, hence that upgrade on the German reconditioned units. To my inexperienced but curious eye, these figures shocked me. I suppose without knowing the flow the pressure is irrelevant.

I believe low oil pressure is one of the design changes for Euro 6. The 'resistance' of the oil probably contributed to a 2 % efficiency loss so the change is introduced, despite becoming a problem after 70k miles. Add another 1 % efficiency gain from low resistance piston rings that cant clear the oil and get caked up with soot and it all starts to make sense why oil consumption is common on most modern engines.

Worrying seeing the T7 section mention oil consumption on new vans and already getting shut down by VWs 0.5l per 1000 KMs message.

 

[sidepod]

I have vague recollections of reading about the oil pump control a few years ago. I think it’s electronically controlled? If so it might be programmable (VCDS) to switch at a lower rpm?

Looking at that graph it’s a sharp digital shift to a higher pressure so it’s either a solenoid valve (software) or a simple pressure relief valve?

More Intel required.

Regards the DSG re map, whenever I’m in the hills I always use manual and keep the engine spinning.

 

[andyinluton]

I have vague recollections of reading about the oil pump control a few years ago. I think it’s electronically controlled? If so it might be programmable (VCDS) to switch at a lower rpm?

Looking at that graph it’s a sharp digital shift to a higher pressure so it’s either a solenoid valve (software) or a simple pressure relief valve?

I think it’s software controlled - I seem to remember that for the first 3000? Miles running in period it runs with higher oil pressure.

 

[sidepod]

I’ve been digging around on the RossTech forum (VCDS) and it’s definitely a thing.

Oil pressure is higher during running in.
People have found the adaptation channel and the “run in” setting however, it seems the ecu resets after a couple of hundred miles.
The consensus is the firmware knows the vehicle mileage and therefore won’t allow permanent run it reset.

I’ve found various re-map options and re-flash kit
Online.

I’ll drop a line to the German guy who reflashed our heaters. He may have more Intel.

 

[Perfectos]

Previous thread with Info

Oil consumption new Cali

Hi. Cali 9 months old 13500m. Advised to check oil level twice. Added 0.25l each time. No problem, but is this normal? I haven't put oil in a car for years before.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

First oil change

Hi All When I picked up my cali November 2017 the dealer said first service after 40,000 k, but also recommended first oil change at 20,000. Ive done 18,000 so I asked how much it would cos t= 400 Swiss francs about £316. First of all is it necessary to change the oil at 20,000 and what do you...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[sidepod]

More Intel.

So reading through this shows it’s a very simple control circuit.
The N428 is a basic on/off ground side switched solenoid valve. It has a permanent live and the ecu switches the ground.
Shelf state or engine off is high pressure. Engine on and below 3k rpm has the ground side switched. In other words, disconnecting it will default to high pressure. Makes sense for engine safety in the event of a malfunction of the valve or wiring failure.

The F1 switch monitors the two different pressure modes and informs the ecu.
This might flag faults if it sees high pressure without a corresponding engine rpm or throttle position? I can’t imagine any fault flag being anything other than a log?

It should be an easy test. With the engine warm and running at sub 3k rpm, disconnecting the switch should result in a drop in rpm/audible change as the oil pump switches over to high flow?