little red oil light

[timmy_tam]

hi
i tried a search, but being capped at 64kps makes it unbearable, plus i've never been able to find much with the search

little red oil light (looks like a teapot) comes on

use to come on when the ignition was off (almost drained battery)
but now its off till i turn the engine on, and stays on

i've topped up oil level, power steering and auto gear box. even did brakes and coolant
still won't go away

any other fluid i'm missing? diff? or is it pressure i'm out of? or a crook sensor?

[RockyVX]

the little bugger shouldnt come on when the ignition is off! Sounds to me like you may have a short in the intstrument cluster or related wiring somewhere.

[Jasoniumh]

Have you degreased your engine lately? Sometimes water gets in there and shorts the circuit, take it out and clean it out. But with it on with the ignition off? That sounds weird, sparky?

[timmy_tam]

i thought having it come on after ignition off

was a common thing, to let you know next time to check the oils?

no, have'nt degreased, but will keep in mind the sensor

[Reaper]

That light will be an oil pressure warning light most probably. Don't drive the car and get a mechanic to come out and check if it really has no oil pressure or if it's the sender that is fubar. Starting the car with no oil pressure will cause major damage and it's only a matter of time before it either spins a bearing or seizes. If you are driving along and the light flicks on, pull over to the nearest safe stopping spot and turn off the motor immediately.

Reaper

[timmy_tam]

thanks reaper
thats a bit scary
i've driven a fair bit with that light on, so now i'm a bit concerned as i had a full weekend planned
is there anyway to suss it out myself?
cheers

[88GreenVN]

thanks reaper
thats a bit scary
i've driven a fair bit with that light on, so now i'm a bit concerned as i had a full weekend planned
is there anyway to suss it out myself?
cheers

Long shot but you could try resetting the ECU (main fuse out 10 secs).


Are you getting any error codes - ie any thing esle playing up?

Could be the oil pressure sensor connector - have a look for corrosion around it when you unplug it.

[Reaper]

thanks reaper
thats a bit scary
i've driven a fair bit with that light on, so now i'm a bit concerned as i had a full weekend planned
is there anyway to suss it out myself?
cheers

If you have driven it a fair bit without incident I'd suspect it is the sensor playing up. Go visit your local wrecker and get a new sensor to swap it over. Also check the wire is in good condition (and still attached).

Sludge buildup in the oil galleries can also eventually block oil flow in which case you need a rebuild quickly.

Reaper

[J_D]

By the way that light only indicates low engine oil pressure not engine oil level and isnt connected to the power steering, auto trans or diff, all those have to be checked by the dipsticks as well as the engine oil to ensure sufficient oil is in those systems.

[PRH]

Hey all,
just a thought would'nt the fuel pump drop out with low oil pressure ?
Phillip

[timmy_tam]

thanks all for the help!!! really really appreciate it!
this is what makes JC such a great forum

just a quick update, i installed an oil guage (will put up a HOW TO INSTALL if there is any interest)

reads around 4 BAR under normal accelerating and driving, occasionally touching 4.5 when accelerating hard

so i know i don't have low pressure
might have high, as the gregory says MAX at 4.14 BAR
but i think should be right

cheers!

[Reaper]

Hey all,
just a thought would'nt the fuel pump drop out with low oil pressure ?
Phillip

Uhh no. Why would it?

Reaper

[burnz]

Uhh no. Why would it?

Reaper

actually yes it would.
ADR 27 1984 fire prevenion saftey unit cut fuel in accedent

[RabidDog_12345]

actually yes it would.
ADR 27 1984 fire prevenion saftey unit cut fuel in accedent

nope if it loses oil pressure the car wont turn off, it will contiune to run until it either siezes or you turn it off, the only thing the oil pressure switch has to do with the fuel pump is, if the fuel pump relay dies it will get power to the fuel pump only when it gets oil pressure.. so it will crank for a while till it builds pressure then it will start.

edit: also there is usually an Inertia switch in commercial trucks and vans, and some family cars that will cut power to the fuel pump in an accident. which would most likely be referring to the ADR 27 1984

[Reaper]

actually yes it would.
ADR 27 1984 fire prevenion saftey unit cut fuel in accedent

Well I guess it would shortly after the engine seizes but it's hardly a direct relationship.

Reaper

[pandaman]

actually yes it would.
ADR 27 1984 fire prevenion saftey unit cut fuel in accedent

News to me. If the fuel pump wouldn't run with no oil pressure, it'd be impossible to start the damned thing.

thanks all for the help!!! really really appreciate it!
this is what makes JC such a great forum

just a quick update, i installed an oil guage (will put up a HOW TO INSTALL if there is any interest)

reads around 4 BAR under normal accelerating and driving, occasionally touching 4.5 when accelerating hard

so i know i don't have low pressure
might have high, as the gregory says MAX at 4.14 BAR
but i think should be right

cheers!

Sounds damned good. That max value is a bit of a rough guide really, it's where the bypass valve is supposed to open, it's a spring operated thing so it's not really exact.

[RockyVX]

directly related to altenator, battery, key switch, and charging circuit. If they stop, it does too

seriously though, a few relays and an LED later, and you could make an interlink that could save you a few bucks later on. link it up also to your immobiliser, and you are even better off. starting to sound like quite a sweet idea to me. until the relay goes pop and the whole thing goes balls up

[timmy_tam]

heres a write up for oil pressure in the VN
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ure-gauge.html

[burnz]

light your ignition dont start fuel pump will turn off in three seconds
also try reading your manuel
the car starts on one relay then transfers too another

[timmy_tam]

hi all, me again

new problem
i was driving today, and the oil pressure guage is sitting on 4BAR at idle (was 3.75 yesterday)
and at about 4.5 accelerating (was at 4.1 yesterday)
it touched 4.75 BAR today

the gregory manual says MAX OIL PRESSURE at 414kpa (4.14 BAR)

have i got high oil pressure? is it an issue?

first low pressure, now high

[RockyVX]

sounds like a ****ty oil pump to me.

The question about the light though, did you not say that it was on when the ignition was off?

[timmy_tam]

well, after driving it, its settled down, so i put it down to either dodgy wiring (my bad) or cheap gauge (not my fault)

rockyvx, yes, it used to be on when ignition was off, then it started to come on only when ignition was on

now its off as i disconnected it

[RockyVX]

that sounds about right. But i'd blame it on the cheap gauge only