E30 Zone

my oil check light came on earlier. it was after i had the passenger side jacked real high whilst i fought with my starter motor.

there is plenty of oil in there, i can see its being pumped to the head as its evident when i took the filler cap off and even after runing for a while, the dipstick was still registering half.

i presume the oil check light is a level sensor rather than pressure as it comes on with just ignition on.

where is the sensor for it? any well known problems with them? and any recomended fixes?

The sensor is in the top of the sump, directly below the alternator.
The sensor is inside an alloy tube with only a very small hole top and bottom, so responses to oil level change are slow.
The inside of the cylinder tends to get clogged up with thick old oil as well.
If it doesn't sort itself out, take the sensor out (no gaskets needed, and oil won't come out, unless the sump is full to the top level on the dipstick), fill an old baked bean can with petrol, and drop the sensor into it (slowly). Half an hour later, lift the sensor out and let it drain, then put it back in again.
Repeat several times, renewing the petrol if it gets too dirty.

cool. whats the sensor on the other side of the block?

Oil pressure switch is on the RH side.

if that dont fix the problem i have a spare that i know works

it will work... i done this to my old e30's sensor.. i used thinner instead !!!

i took the sensor out and flushed it a few times but its still the same - oil warning light is still on with the check panel. do i have to wait a bit fot the sensor to fill back up with oil?

after flushing, i could hear something moving around inside when turned over...

anyone?

Oil pump primed?
Remove the oil filter housing, and squirt oil down the pick up hole. Fire it up and see!

pardon? the sensor sits in the top of the sump. its nothing to do with the oil pump is it?

I have the same problem when parking my car for more than half hour or so on a steep grade. It disappears after a while of being level again so have never worried too much

This happened on mine once. I renewed the oil pressure switch and that sorted the problem. It wasn't an expensive part iirc.

if im not mistaken, the oil pressure switch only has an effect for the dash/pod oil light, and not the oil light on the check module.... the oil light on the check module is due to a faulty oil level sensor which is the one on the passenger side ontop of the sump...

no2lurch
how long did you soak it for and what did you use mate? i left mine over night, and yep your right, you will hear the float moving when turned upside down !

have you tried to check your oil level when engine is cold? where does it show on the dipstick

the dipstick shows half way when cold. i soaked it in carb cleaner.

i'm gonna have another go tonight in petrol this time.

thanks guys. its sorted. i flushed it agian with petrol and its working now.

if im not mistaken, the oil pressure switch only has an effect for the dash/pod oil light, and not the oil light on the check module.... the oil light on the check module is due to a faulty oil level sensor which is the one on the passenger side ontop of the sump...

Yeah u could be right. When mine was acting up it was just the dash light that was coming on.

Good to hear it's all sorted anyway.

right, the check light came on again today.

does it just need flushing again, or replacing with a new one?

How's the wiring connector? mine started playing up a few months ago just after a service and I found it had got water and corrosion in the connector... Dunno how the water got in there as it's tucked away behind the alternator, but cleaning it all out has fixed the problem.

take it off and check if you can hear the float moving inside.. if not then soak in petrol again mate! when was the last time you changed the oil?