The engine on your Volkswagen needs a specific amount of oil to run smoothly. If the level is too low, there won’t be enough lubrication between moving parts and this can cause damage.
The same goes for if the oil level is too high: it can cause leaks and other problems that affect performance. One of the common problems with VWs is “Please reduce oil level” coming up on the dashboard.
Fortunately, I worked on Volkswagens for years and I know exactly how to fix this problem.
In this article, I am going to explain what this means, the leading causes, and how to fix and reset the reduce oil level warning on your VW. Let’s get to it.
What Does “Reduce Oil Level” Mean on a VW?
First things first, let us look at what this warning actually means.
In simple terms, the “reduce oil level” warning means the oil level sensor has detected that there is too much oil in the engine.
This fault can be triggered by a number of different factors, including overfilled engine oil, bad oil level sensor, outdated software, and low-quality engine oil.
What Causes VW’s “Reduce Oil Level” Warning
Now, let’s look at the causes of this warning. In theory, there are many, but I have narrowed it down to a few common causes from my experience.
Overfilled Engine Oil
The most common reason for the “reduce oil level” warning on a VW is overfilling the engine with oil.
This is especially true if you have just had your car serviced or repaired and someone added too much oil to compensate for the amount lost during the service.
The oil level sensor will detect this, transfer the information to the ECU and warn you that there is too much oil in the engine.
You can check the oil level using a dipstick by pulling it out and wiping it clean. If the oil level is too high, then you will need to drain some out of your VW’s engine.
Bad Oil Level Sensor
The oil level sensor is a device that detects the amount of oil in your VW’s engine.
It sends this information to the ECU and if it detects there is too much or too little oil, then it will trigger a warning light on your dashboard.
Sometimes these sensors go bad and malfunction and send false information to the ECU. This can cause the reduce oil level to come on although the actual oil level is fine.
if your oil level is within the factory-recommended range, then you may have a bad sensor or need a software update.
Outdated Software
The third most common problem with the reduce oil level light is outdated software.
The ECU in your VW is similar to a computer and it needs updates from time to time.
If you don’t update the software, it may be sending false information to the warning lights on your dashboard.
Sometimes just updating the software is enough to fix the problem.
low-Quality Engine Oil
The fourth most common cause of the reduce oil level warning is low-quality engine oil.
If you’re using cheap, off-brand recommended spec oil, it can cause the high oil level warning light to come on.
The engine needs high-quality oil that meets VW’s specifications (i.e VW 508.00/ 502.00)for your car.
How to Fix and Reset the “Reduce Oil Level” Message on a Volkswagen
As a seasoned vehicle tech, here are the steps I recommend you take to fix a high oil level warning light in a Volkswagen.
1. Manually Check the Oil Level (Reduce if High)
Before you go any further, I highly recommend that you manually check the oil level in your engine.
This will tell you if there is an actual problem or not. If the oil level is too high then, you should reduce it.
you can drain it but make sure you do the process slowly to avoid completely draining the engine oil out.
After reducing the oil reset the vehicle by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.
2. Software Update
If the engine oil level is fine, then the next step is to check your software and see if you need to update it.
If not, then the oil level sensor on your VW is faulty. If you have an older vehicle, then the chances are that your software is outdated.
This can cause problems in your vehicle and one of them is an incorrect reading from the oil level sensor.
If you have a newer car, then it’s unlikely that this is the case since most manufacturers update their systems regularly.
3. Replace the Oil Level Sensor
If all of the above steps have been exhausted and you’re still getting an incorrect reading on your oil level, then it may be time to replace your oil level sensor.
The oil level sensor is located in the engine oil pan but I personally recommend that you take your car to a VW dealer, mechanic, or a qualified auto repair garage and have them replace it for you.
This way, you won’t be in danger of making any mistakes and causing even more damage to your car.
Additional Sources
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-low-oil-level-sensor
https://www.hallvw.com/blog/what-oil-should-be-used-in-a-volkswagen-vehicle/