Oil light on dash...

[Gavla]

My oil light on my dash board has started coming on once I have been driving for more than 20 minutes...

Full service with fluid changes in March this year...

What should I be looking out for?

Thanks

[BenHar]

First thing is to check the oil level.

Ben

[steve_k]

first things first, what engine???

[arrisbmw]

yes as above oil level, but i,d say dont drive the car untill sorted.
could be as simply as a faulty sender unit.
blocked oil filter .
blocked engine oil ways .
faulty oil pump , not likely

[tha881]

Im pretty certain the light on the dash relates to oil pressure rather than level

[steve_k]

Im pretty certain the light on the dash relates to oil pressure rather than level

it does,

[Gavla]

first things first, what engine???

325i

[Gavla]

Im pretty certain the light on the dash relates to oil pressure rather than level

correct, oil level fine

[Gavla]

Ordered a new oil pressure sensor...just in case

Ordered 5w40 Magnatex to do an oil change...just in case

Ordered a crank case breather hose...just in case

[paultv]

I should say the oil will be at running temp after 20 minutes driving- it takes a while to get fully hot - stick some cheap 15-40 in and see if that fixes it (this is the oil BMW originally recommended for a UK climate) - could be a worn pump or simply worn engine... but hopefully it's the sensor!

Paul

[Gavla]

...could be a worn pump or simply worn engine...

Paul

Simply worn engine... ...

Fingers crossed it is the sensor...

[BenHar]

Im pretty certain the light on the dash relates to oil pressure rather than level

It does, but if the level is low the oil pressure light will come on.

Ben

[Gavla]

So I changed the oil pressure sensor and changed the oil and it seems to have done the trick... fingers crossed it is not a temp fix...

Crank case breather hose will be a bonus, current one is brittle so probably needs to be changed anyway.

[Gavla]

It does, but if the level is low the oil pressure light will come on.

Ben

This I did not know, thought only the onboard light would come on...

[sweep]

Oil pressure switches can leak check under the rubber boot which covers the electrical connector.

[paultv]

True story - mine was dribbling oil out of the rubber boot on the end of the switch.

Paul

[steve_k]

True story - mine was dribbling oil out of the rubber boot on the end of the switch.

Paul

mine did that till i replaced the switch & it's O ring, no more dribbles now.

[BenHar]

It does, but if the level is low the oil pressure light will come on.

Ben

This I did not know, thought only the onboard light would come on...

If the oil level gets too low the oil pump pick up cannot reach it so there is no oil pumped round so no oil pressure and the low pressure light comes on.

Ben

[martauto]

Glad you got this one sorted mate,

Mart.