2000 S70-The oil light comes on and goes off

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 26 Sep 2018, 20:53

Hello all,

The oil light on my car comes on and off. Is this something I need to worry about? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 26 Sep 2018, 21:15

Have you checked your oil? Does it come on randomly or is there a distinctive pattern? Could just be a malfunctioning liht or sensor, or you could have a legitimate problem with low oil pressure. How many miles are on the car?

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 26 Sep 2018, 22:39

I actually recently got the car but the light wasn't on when I test drove it.
The oil looks dirty, I was going to change it today but wanted to ask you all first for any tips.
I read somewhere that some seals inside the oil pan usually go bad.
The car has 69K miles on it.
I also noticed some oil leak on the back side of the pan like below, I cleaned it today and will drive some tomorrow and check again to locate the leak if I can.

Post by **abscate** » 27 Sep 2018, 05:04

Check the level first, then change it. That light is the only thing between you and a $3000 enginejob.

I have the same seep on my 99, I’ve washed it down, tightened the oil pan bolts, replaced the oil cooler bolts. But still have the seep , apparently showing at the oil pan/ blockjunction

I use about 1 liter in 2500 miles

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 27 Sep 2018, 08:15

Thank you for your input.
I just put the car on ramp to change the oil and noticed that there is a leak from the oil cooler.
Just wanted to ask you guys if this is something easy to take care during the oil change?

Post by **850 LPT** » 27 Sep 2018, 08:50

You must be seriously low on oil before that light comes on, to a point were you don't see anything on the dipstick. If that's the case you are missing 3+ quarts. Once you get that oil change done the light will go out.
Did you check the dipstick?

Post by **abscate** » 27 Sep 2018, 09:47

Leave the oil cooler alone, get the oil changed and full, then wash off the rear (right side) of the engine to track the leak

Im not sure your cooler is leaking.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Sep 2018, 10:19

+1 with abscate on this one. In your first picture you can see oil as high as the pipe (I think it is the oil return pipe from a turbo possibly). So not convinced on the source. Is there oil around the oil filler cap on the top of the motor? It could be as simple as the oil filler cap seal needs replaced, or maybe the PCV needs serviced and oil is running down the back of the motor. There are a couple of drains from the spark plug cavity below the cover plate. Remove that and check if cylinder #2 + #3 have oil around them.

Also check the oil cooler lines on the turbo are not rusted through or leaking.

Neil.

Post by **jimmy57** » 27 Sep 2018, 11:57

The oil light behavior can be either that the engine does have low oil pressure at times due to weak oil pump, leak in the o rings in oil filter housing to oil pump, or oil passage between engine and the oil pan. The oil pressure switch can fail make the light come on when oil pressure is not a problem. The oil pressure switch is on the front of the engine in almost the same relative position as the pipe on rear of engine above the oily area. Have you looked there to see if there is any leakage? The oil pressure switch has a single wire and if it fails and makes the light come on it is common to have the switch leak.

neworleans · Post by **neworleans** » 27 Sep 2018, 22:54

Thank you all, I am going to check all that tomorrow and let you all know.
I was planning to put this engine flush additive before the oil change, do you all think it is a good idea?
"Liqui Moly 2037 Pro-Line Engine Flush"