I split my sump the other day.
Swapped it for a new one, replaced the gasket and swapped the float sender whatsit.
Whie the sump was off, I checked the oil pump, and visually, it seems fine.
Now Ive re-filled the car with oil, all is good, no leaks etc, but the oil light on the dash is still on!!!
Any ideas??
Oil light! Arrrrrrrrrrrrr
Moderator: martauto
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Brianmoooore
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Which oil light? If it's the one in the cluster it's nothing to do with "the float sender whatsit."
Disconnect the plug from the oil pressure switch, and see if this puts the light out. Disturb things as little as possible when you do.
Disconnect the plug from the oil pressure switch, and see if this puts the light out. Disturb things as little as possible when you do.
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town325i
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the one in the dash is the one connected to the pressure switch sounds like you may have a knackered oil pump or something to do with it mine has died today at 70 in the fast lane of the m6 not a good combination 
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Brianmoooore
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Wouldn't really recommend doing that!law wrote:Nope...says on when revving it.
If you would be kind enough to tell us which engine you have, it will help us tell you where the pressure switch is!
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Brianmoooore
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Pressure switch is low down on the engine block on the RH side, near the front. Not far from the oil filter.
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Brianmoooore
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That's not good news! You either need a new oil pressure switch or a new engine.law wrote:Right, the oil light goes off when I disconnect the plug!
If it's not the oil switch, then probably the oil pump drive has sheared.
If you've run the engine at all, then you will have damaged it, but it may still have some useful life left in it, so get the sump off again and check.
I have had that problem with my 325iX when I changed the oil once, didn't put oil into until the day after, when I started it the pressure light in the dash wouldn't go out. Checked all the wires everything but the problem was to be found in the actual fact that the pump didn't pump oil. Also once when I had it stored for 6 months same problem occured. It was a simple fix though.
Take off the console that the oil filter sits (just loosen the center bolt, be careful with the o-rings or they will need replacement) on and then take a oil can with some engine oil in it and squirt some oil into the outer of the 2 holes in the block until oil comes back out. Then refit the console and fire up the engine, that has done the trick for me twice.
The theory is that if the oilpump is dry it can't suck and then it can't get the oil up from the sump. With a little oil the reverse way it gets enough oil to be able to make a vacuum and hence suck oil up from the sump.
Take off the console that the oil filter sits (just loosen the center bolt, be careful with the o-rings or they will need replacement) on and then take a oil can with some engine oil in it and squirt some oil into the outer of the 2 holes in the block until oil comes back out. Then refit the console and fire up the engine, that has done the trick for me twice.
The theory is that if the oilpump is dry it can't suck and then it can't get the oil up from the sump. With a little oil the reverse way it gets enough oil to be able to make a vacuum and hence suck oil up from the sump.
Oh dear... exactly what kinda damage would it have done?Brianmoooore wrote:That's not good news! You either need a new oil pressure switch or a new engine.law wrote:Right, the oil light goes off when I disconnect the plug!
If it's not the oil switch, then probably the oil pump drive has sheared.
If you've run the engine at all, then you will have damaged it, but it may still have some useful life left in it, so get the sump off again and check.