oil check light - problem back!

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:59 pm

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?
Last edited by no2lurch on Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:29 pm

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.
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:44 pm

cool. whats the sensor on the other side of the block?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:41 pm

Oil pressure switch is on the RH side.
town325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 7050
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: cannock staffordshire

Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:11 am

if that dont fix the problem i have a spare that i know works
Image
User avatar
blingsta
Boost Junkie
Posts: 2930
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Enfield

Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:47 am

it will work... i done this to my old e30's sensor.. i used thinner instead !!!
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:03 pm

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...
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:53 pm

anyone?
law
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:00 pm

Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:33 pm

Oil pump primed?
Remove the oil filter housing, and squirt oil down the pick up hole. Fire it up and see!
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:59 pm

pardon? the sensor sits in the top of the sump. its nothing to do with the oil pump is it?
poolnoodle
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1786
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:06 am

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
'83 Bronzit 323i (mmmm, chrome)
'74 Polaris 2002 (mmmm, retro)
'89 Delphin 535i (mmmm, waft waft)
E30Gheko
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3789
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Wirral

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:09 am

This happened on mine once. I renewed the oil pressure switch and that sorted the problem. It wasn't an expensive part iirc.
User avatar
blingsta
Boost Junkie
Posts: 2930
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Enfield

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:48 am

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
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:15 am

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

i'm gonna have another go tonight in petrol this time.
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:25 pm

thanks guys. its sorted. i flushed it agian with petrol and its working now.
User avatar
blingsta
Boost Junkie
Posts: 2930
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Enfield

Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:11 am

:banana:
E30Gheko
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3789
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Wirral

Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:56 am

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. :D

Good to hear it's all sorted anyway. :thumb:
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:32 pm

Brianmoooore wrote: Repeat several times, renewing the petrol if it gets too dirty.
User avatar
no2lurch
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1487
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Cannock, West Mids

Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:51 pm

right, the check light came on again today.

does it just need flushing again, or replacing with a new one?
stonesie
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3277
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Doncaster

Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:06 am

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.
User avatar
blingsta
Boost Junkie
Posts: 2930
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Enfield

Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:34 am

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?
Post Reply