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Mar 13, 2012 23:07:24 GMT
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I've just bought an e34 518, and the oil light keeps showing, I've checked the oil level, and it's one inch over max, would that cause the oil light to show?
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Mar 13, 2012 23:27:50 GMT
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An inch on the dipstick? That is a huge amount, did you wipe it and try again?
If the oil truly is at that level, there's a reasonable chance the pressure is a bit high. I don't know about BMWs, but if the light comes on for over pressure as well as under it probably isn't lying.
After confirming that the oil level is that far up the dipstick, I'd drop a litre out straight away and see where that leaves you.
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I've got Rovers.
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Mar 13, 2012 23:42:13 GMT
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Park it on a level surface, and check it with the engine stone cold. This'll give you an accurate reading. If you're checking it under any other circumstances, a reading as you describe may well be expected.
If its still an inch above max when cold then yeah, well, as sam says, drain some out sharpish!
Your oil pressure sensor may have failed. A new one for my car was only about a fiver from BMW, I'd start there.
Is it leaking oil at all?
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1986 BMW 628csi, 2003 Alfa Romeo 147, 1992 Jaaaaag XJ40, 1982 BMW R100 cafe racer.
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Mar 13, 2012 23:47:30 GMT
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I checked it 30 minutes after a run
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what colour is the light red or yellow
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97 volvo 940 turbo wagon
87 fiat strada abarth
78 gs1000
82 katana 1100
84 gsx1100 efe
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The light is red
When you first start the car the light is off, when the engine gets up temperature is when the light comes on.
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red means stop! likely to be oil pressure as it warms up.
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Mar 14, 2012 12:11:44 GMT
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Doesnt sound good.
Infact it sounds like very low oil pressure in the engine, which the previous owner has tried to hide / bodge by over-filling the oil level.
IMO, get the level correct and see how it is. If it still lights up, change the sensor as it should be cheap and easy. If its still lighting up when warm, you need the oil pressure checked with a decent guage and be prepared for serious expense....
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786 
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Mar 14, 2012 12:56:08 GMT
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If the light goes out when you start up when it's cold but then comes on as it warms up, this is a classic sign of oil pressure dropping as it warms and thins out.
It'll be caused by one of three things;
A; Worn oil pump
B; Worn bearings/crank journals(worst case)
C; Oil pressure relief valve not seating correctly
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Mar 14, 2012 13:35:35 GMT
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There is a D; to add to the above - faulty oil pressure warning switch. ime it's this more often than any of the others, especially if the warning light has been on for a while but the engine hasn't grenaded.
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in |
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Mar 14, 2012 16:31:33 GMT
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There is a D; to add to the above - faulty oil pressure warning switch. ime it's this more often than any of the others, especially if the warning light has been on for a while but the engine hasn't grenaded. Forgot that one *facepalm* |
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Mar 14, 2012 17:25:08 GMT
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I had a dohc sierra which had so badly worn lifters that the oil light flickered at idle.
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Mar 14, 2012 18:10:15 GMT
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I had a dohc sierra which had so badly worn lifters that the oil light flickered at idle. I bet it rattled like...well...a knackered Ford. ;D  |
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Mar 14, 2012 19:01:20 GMT
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I went to a garage today, they say it needs and oil flush and change, after doing a bit
of driving today I can say there is no pattern to when it comes on.
It is always off when cold, but can be on or off when warm, I'm thinking that the sensor is the problem, and is having issues when warm
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Mar 14, 2012 20:21:35 GMT
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Is it just on tickover that it comes on when warm or does it do it when driving about normally? If it's random it probably is either a sensor or wiring problem. An oil change is unlikely to change anything to be honest but isn't going to do any harm either especially if you don't know when it was last done. Does the engine get noisy when the oil light comes on?
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Mar 14, 2012 20:30:54 GMT
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The light is totally random, tickover, normal driving, and hard driving are all the same.
The engine is whisper quiet, and no signs of knocking.
The only other symptom is tickover is very very slightly lumpy, (plus or minus 50 rpm)
but I would expect this with an over filled engine
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Mar 16, 2012 19:22:13 GMT
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I did an oil flush and change, and so far the light has stayed off.
So fingers crossed it's fixed.
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