Oil sensor light

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:36 am

This morning while I was driving to work my oil sensor light came on. I pulled over, shut her down, and checked the oil level 20x over the next 10 minutes. The oil level was right in the middle of the two notches. When I started it back up the oil light was off and didn't come back on the remainder of my drive.
Could it be the sensor going bad, or the oil pump? Thanks!

Morgonzo · Post by **Morgonzo** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:39 am

Javabob, I can tell you that when mine comes on upon start-up, it means I need to top off the oil. Add a 1/2 quart and it doesn't do it again. Perhaps that's all you need.

Cheers

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:35 pm

What colour is your "oil sensor light"? The red oil can on the dash? That's an oil *pressure* warning light, it means the engine's not making enough oil pressure to operate without damaging itself. Usually it comes on if the oil level is way too low and the oil pump is sucking air. You mustn't drive with the oil warning light on- the engine is eating its bearings at that point.
It may also be that your pressure sensor is faulty. They're cheap and easy to replace, it's the (usually oily) thing above the alternator with the single wire going to it.

Some Pajero/Monteros have an actual oil *level* sensor (and maybe some Delicas, but I've not noticed one yet). That's usually an amber oil can- it means your oil level is getting low and should be topped up, but you don't need to stop the engine. Yet.

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:45 pm

Thanks for the input guys! It turns out that the contact on my oil pressure sensor was so wet with oil (from the filter loosening) that the contacts were swimming in it. I re-tightened the filter, sprayed a lot of contact cleaner around and bingo, no more light!

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:38 pm

Might be a good idea to replace it anyway, they do get tired with age.

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Fri Mar 31, 2017 5:29 pm

Morgonzo, you should never wait for the pressure light to come on before topping up the oil. The light should go out within a couple of seconds after start up. I would check the oil level more frequently.

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Morgonzo · Post by **Morgonzo** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:15 am

Hey 204, you're right. I usually monitor it pretty closely since we have a small leak, but I have switched cars with my wife while my right hand is in a cast, and she's not the type to notice the light upon start up. It took me hopping into it to jocky the cars around the driveway to see the light go on and filled it pronto. It was farther down the stick than i like ( a little over half-way down between the notches..) but after filling it, the light did not flash again. T minus 7 more days and I can drive my Deli again....

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:40 pm

Glad to hear your getting better. There is no reason the light should be on if the level is between the lines of the dipstick. It normally takes a second or two for the pump to build pressure and the light to go off. I recently installed a oil pressure gauge in my L400. When the oil is cold it builds 55psi in a couple of seconds. At idle with warm oil its showing around 20 psi. I run ow40 oil. Not sure how similar the l300 is.

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