Oil pressure problem - "no oil pressure stop engine safely"

[abscate]

It sounds like you have two different problems, one with oil pressure and the transmission.

How often have you been changing the oil and ATF?

[erikv11]

About the "No oil pressure stop engine" message: it can come on very easily, and usually just an oil change makes it go away. Are you sure the level is in the proper range on the dipstick?

[Eisses]

I had the "no oil pressure stop safely" warning come up recently on my 2006 Volvo XC70 (the 2.5L turbo engine) at 144,000 km's (90,000 miles) on the car after a burst of hard acceleration. I pulled off the freeway and checked the oil, which was at a normal level. At low rpm, or low cruising speed the light would not come on, but at 100 km/h (60 mph) or over the warning would come on again. I ended up turning around and limping the car home for three hours going 80 km/h (50 mph) to prevent the warning from showing up. Thankfully it looks like no damage was done to the engine.

In the end it turns out it was the o-ring gasket at the bottom of the oil pan (Oil Sump o-ring/pick up tube o-ring). The o-ring was slightly deformed, letting air to be sucked in at higher rpm, causing low oil pressure, hence the warning light. The mechanic put an oil pressure gauge on which confirmed this. The oil pressure was fine at low rpm, but all over the place at high rpm. This is a common problem with Volvo's, but the warning could also be caused by a faulty sensor or sludge build up if oil changes haven't been regularly. Hopefully this helps if anyone else encounters this problem.

My mechanic said some genius engineer must have thought an o-ring was needed, as most auto makers have a direct metal to metal fit to the oil pan and don't bother with a gasket/o-ring which in this location. Another $1000 fix for the Volvo...sadly still love the car.

[jonesg]

I had the "no oil pressure stop safely" warning come up recently on my 2006 Volvo XC70 (the 2.5L turbo engine) at 144,000 km's (90,000 miles) on the car after a burst of hard acceleration. I pulled off the freeway and checked the oil, which was at a normal level. At low rpm, or low cruising speed the light would not come on, but at 100 km/h (60 mph) or over the warning would come on again. I ended up turning around and limping the car home for three hours going 80 km/h (50 mph) to prevent the warning from showing up. Thankfully it looks like no damage was done to the engine.

In the end it turns out it was the o-ring gasket at the bottom of the oil pan (Oil Sump o-ring/pick up tube o-ring). The o-ring was slightly deformed, letting air to be sucked in at higher rpm, causing low oil pressure, hence the warning light. The mechanic put an oil pressure gauge on which confirmed this. The oil pressure was fine at low rpm, but all over the place at high rpm. This is a common problem with Volvo's, but the warning could also be caused by a faulty sensor or sludge build up if oil changes haven't been regularly. Hopefully this helps if anyone else encounters this problem.

My mechanic said some genius engineer must have thought an o-ring was needed, as most auto makers have a direct metal to metal fit to the oil pan and don't bother with a gasket/o-ring which in this location. Another $1000 fix for the Volvo...sadly still love the car.

Sounds expensive for something thats a minor part of a pcv job.

[abscate]

I think if you are a smart designer you put the pan pickup connection below the nominal crankcase oil level so that if there is leakage it just sucks in oil instead of air.

[erikv11]

...
In the end it turns out it was the o-ring gasket at the bottom of the oil pan (Oil Sump o-ring/pick up tube o-ring). The o-ring was slightly deformed, letting air to be sucked in at higher rpm, causing low oil pressure, hence the warning light. ... Another $1000 fix for the Volvo...sadly still love the car.

Sounds expensive for something thats a minor part of a pcv job.

Actually a PCV job goes nowhere near this o-ring. You have to drop the oil pan to get to it. That's why it is so expensive.