Oil Light

[Guest]

When I start my car the engine oil light stays on for around 15 seconds and then goes off. Shouldn't it go off straight away? Sometimes if I give the car a little rev it helps it to go off sooner? My car's oil is full on the dipstick so what do you think could be the issue?

[Toby_Unna]

on the m30 3.5 engine there is a common problem where a non-return valve in the oil filter housing fails. this then allows the oil in the oilways to drain back into the sump when the engine is stopped for a while - so when you restart it the pump has to get oil right from the bottom to the top of the engine before pressue builds up and the light goes off (the pressure sensor is in the head on an m30).

15 secs is a long time though. does the engine run well otherwise?

[Brianmoooore]

Put a genuine BMW oil filter on it, and see if that helps.

[Guest]

Yes, the car runs fine otherwise. It only has this problem on a cold start. Might try the BMW filter next time...