Oil light flashes once in a morning

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:27 am

My wife has reported that on her way to work the oil light flashes once, usually going round corner.

I have checked the oil and its at about half way.

Any ideas

Did a search but first 8 pages revealed nothing keyword "oil light"

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:32 am

Fill it to the full mark

boyzie · Post by **boyzie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:44 am

thanks veg_ian. Now I changed the oil and filter about 6000 miles ago. Is it normal to loose half in that time?

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:57 am

Did you recheck the level soon after filling with new oil? The level is dependant on if the vehicle is level when checking and also remember it may look full but a fair amount sits in the filter after running the engine so that could explain your 'loss'. Chuck another pint in, that should stop the light coming on when cornering.

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:12 pm

I assume you have gone halfway down the min/max rather than losing half your oil. The former is fine for 6000 miles and only represents about a pint. The service interval is stipulated at 3000 miles for diesel Bongos so 6000 is pushing it between changes. I dont think you should see the oil pressure drop unless the level is way below minimum but I would be very surprised if you have a problem. I would just change it and keep an eye on it.

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:40 pm

hi, If you are using good oil 6000 mile service is fine, shell elix or similar,

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:37 pm

The oil light is dependant on pressure not oil level. Going round corners would have no effect with such a small loss. Your level would have to be not showing on the dipstick for the pressure to drop and the light to come on. Could be a faulty connection/sender unit or perhaps somthing unrelated. Does it ever happen when you are driving?? Is it def the oil light??
Fit a coolant loss alarm !! what's that got to do with it?? nothing !! Just like saying it.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:40 pm

Well Smartmonkey is absolutely correct in raising the issue about the oil change interval. Go for the cheap option first ie. change the oil and filter and top up to the full mark on the dipstick then see how it goes.

Heifer · Post by **Heifer** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:32 am

Well I'm sure what Haydon said about the oil light is correct but the same thing happened to me and when it was topped up with oil the problem was solved. The light came on when cornering (the same corner every morning) when I checked the level with a slightly warm engine it read about half way between min and max, so I assumed there was more than that (hot oil sploshed around the engine and all that) turned out cold that there was less! Anyway throughly topped up and was fine, I think the accepted wisdom with Bongos is they are happier near the max anyway.

H

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:47 pm

If you are running a thicker oil you can have a bit less in the sump whilst the engine is running. All that is happening is the oil suction pipe is sucking air momentarily as the oil surges away from it during cornering. This normally only happens when the oil is well below minimum and at half way I would expect it to be fine.

A service with the right grade of oil and keeping it at 2/3rds and above will be way to go. I might still be tempted to whip the sump off and check the suction is in the right place and its strainer isn't blocked (if it has one).