oil light comes on but no loss of oil v70xc 00

aivar · Post by **aivar** » 29 Mar 2010, 07:44

After about 15min of driving sometimes the oil light comes on. First times it happened I immediately stopped and checked the oil but no problem there.It does not stay for long and often blinks only. I check the oil and it is normal between half to full on the stick and it is recently changed. There is no noise or any other kind sign of trouble.

Post by **wheelsup** » 29 Mar 2010, 08:11

I believe your car is similar, but on my 95 in the oil pan there is a pickup tube and apparently the o-rings go bad which reduce the amount of oil pickup. This reduces the oil pressure. To be sure before doing the job you can have the oil pressure tested to confirm. It may be just a sensor.

But I wouldn't drive much until you figure it out, not enough oil is a bad thing for the longevity of your engine.

aivar · Post by **aivar** » 29 Mar 2010, 08:21

Thanks! Any idea where is the oil sensor and how to test the pressure?

Post by **jblackburn** » 29 Mar 2010, 08:53

Look directly below the intake manifold. You will see a small, white plug sticking out. That's the oil pressure sensor. You can get a mechanical sensor that will plug into that port, and then you can hook a gauge to it. I'm sure auto parts stores sell some kind of gauge for these,

aivar · Post by **aivar** » 29 Mar 2010, 09:13

Thanks! I guess I need to drain the oil before I switch out the sensor to mechanical gauge?

Post by **jblackburn** » 29 Mar 2010, 09:16

I wouldn't think so, it seems far enough up on the oil pan that you wouldn't need to as long as the engine hasn't been run in a couple hours it should have all drained back into the bottom of the oil pan, but I'd shove an oil pan under the car as you're removing it.

Post by **JDS60R** » 29 Mar 2010, 09:27

Check your owners manual to see if you have an oil level and a oil pressure sensor.
The stop by the dealer or anyone with a PPC to see which one it is. The oil level sensors on the bottom of the oil pan do go bad or show improper readings in cold temps.

The advice above to have it checked right away was very good advice. Waiting to see if an oil light is a big gamble.

aivar · Post by **aivar** » 29 Mar 2010, 10:07

Thanks! But would you say it is a safe to say if the measuring stick shows well above minimum but not over max that it is safe to operate even if the light comes on at the same short time period.

Post by **wheelsup** » 29 Mar 2010, 10:26

The issue isn't not having oil it's the oil not getting to the internal components of the engine.

Post by **jblackburn** » 29 Mar 2010, 10:28

The 93's were the only one to have an oil level sensor. I think it's a good idea, but they never got it right and they never worked right. The 94 and later cars all have an oil pressure sensor.

The fact that it's flickering means either a bad connection on the wires, or low oil pressure (or possibly a bad sensor, though I would think it would be on all the time). Still probably not a good idea to do a lot of driving until you figure out what it is. My Saab tore itself apart after the mechanic said "oh, the oil light's just a short".

Out of curiosity, what weight oil are you running?