[tyler2003]

Originally Posted by little gus

I AM USING 5W40 OIL , OIL LEVEL STAYS NORMAL, NO GAS SMELL .

My 99 Passat is currently at the Dealership for the same problem. The alarm sounded every 5 minutes. My oil level was also normal. After driving about 15 miles (since the light first appeared) my oil pressure dropped while idling. If I was driving 50 to 60 mph - the pressure would rise. The dealership told me that I needed an engine flush to clean out all of the sludge in the engine. The noise was then being created by the Lifters which were not getting enough oil. They told me that if I would have waited too long - the oil pump would have gone and so would the engine. They also told me that this seems to be a fairly common problem with Passats.