Most vehicle owners have encountered an indication on the dashboard indicating an insufficient oil level in the system. Situations of sensor failure are considered the simplest. Replacement is performed promptly and is inexpensive. All other cases indicate serious problems with the engine. It is possible to identify and eliminate the defect in a professional service center.
The main causes of indication on the dashboard are low oil level in the engine or similar pressure indicators. Identify the exact state of the system can only be diagnosed with the help of diagnostics on modern equipment, or by understanding the operating instructions. Budget cars are mostly equipped only with oil pressure indicators.
Brief table of causes and actions
| Problem | Causes | How to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low oil level | Insufficient oil volume in the crankcase, oil leaks or oil burnout. | Check oil level with a dipstick. | Fill oil to recommended level, check for leaks. |
| Oil pump malfunction | Wear or breakage of the oil pump, oil circulation failure. | Check the oil level, if it is normal, the pump may be defective. | Refer to service for oil pump replacement or repair. |
| Oil filter clogging | The oil filter is clogged with dirt or chips, preventing oil flow. | Check the condition of the oil filter when changing the oil. | Replace the oil filter with a new one, preferably an original one. |
| Wrong oil selection | Use the wrong type or poor quality oil. | Check the viscosity and type of oil used in the engine. | Replace the oil with the oil recommended by the manufacturer. |
| Engine wear | Wear of engine parts (liners, cylinders, etc.), which reduces oil pressure. | Diagnose the engine at a service center. | Provide engine overhaul if necessary. |
| Malfunction of the oil pressure sensor | The sensor is not transmitting information correctly or has failed. | Check the sensor readings when the engine speed increases (if the light goes out at 1000 rpm – the sensor is serviceable). | Replace or clean the oil pressure sensor. |
| Dilution of oil with gasoline or antifreeze | Gasoline or antifreeze has penetrated into the oil. | Check the oil level with a dipstick (if the level is high, it may be mixed with fuel or antifreeze). | Refer to a service for diagnostics of the cooling and fuel system. |
| Thickened oil on cold start | Thickening oil at low temperatures (especially in winter). | The oil light is on for the first 3 seconds after starting the engine. | Warm up the engine, use oil with the correct viscosity for winter conditions. |
What to do if oil pressure has dropped to critical levels
For most vehicles, a burning indicator in the form of an oil light on the dashboard indicates an insufficient level of lubricating fluid pressure. If the light goes out after a few seconds, you need to keep a close eye on it during the entire route. Most often such symptoms are manifested in winter, especially when starting the car cold. The indication appears with strong rolls of the technique on bends.
If the indication is constant, it is necessary to contact a service center, the operation of the car must be stopped. Critically low fluid level indicates insufficient oil in the crankcase. The driver needs to check the level with a special dipstick, if necessary, add a similar composition. In most cases, such a measure is sufficient for the indication to disappear. For some time it is necessary to continue to monitor the dashboard. If the oil light appears again, a call to the service is mandatory.
A more serious cause of the indication is the failure of the oil pump. If when checking the oil level, a sufficient amount of oil is found, most likely it is the pump. The consequences of such a defect are insufficient circulation of lubricant in the motor. The consequence is engine failure and expensive repairs.
At the first indication in the form of oil on the dashboard, the best thing the driver can do is to stop on the side of the road. The engine must be shut off, preferably to let it cool down. This sequence of actions is due to the potential risk of engine failure. If the volume and pressure of lubrication are insufficient, the motor works with heavy loads and can quickly fail. In many cases, the failure of the power unit is fixed after only a few minutes of such work.
Scheduled oil changes may also be accompanied by a breakdown indication on the dashboard. When using high-quality lubricant, recommended by the manufacturer, the oil light disappears 10-20 seconds after starting the engine. Otherwise, it is necessary to check the filter element. It is desirable to immediately replace it with an original part.
Breakdown of the oil pressure sensor – what to do
For most modern vehicles, the level of oil pressure in the engine should be 0.5 kgf/cm2 or more. Such indicators are recorded at an engine speed of 800-900 rpm. Exceeding the pressure level is also unacceptable. Most sensors are set to operate the power unit in the interval 0,4-0,8 kgf/cm2. Approaching of the measured value to the upper and lower limits triggers the indicator.
Any such situation is a potential emergency. Therefore it is necessary to stop and try to determine what exactly is the cause of the defect. To do this, it is necessary to raise the power unit’s revolutions to 1000 and monitor the state of the indicator. If the oil light disappears, everything is all right with the lubrication pressure. Otherwise, you need to go to the service as soon as possible and check the engine on the bench.
If the indicator triggers erroneously, it is enough to perform its cleaning. To do this, the assembly is dismantled. Each oil channel is thoroughly washed. After removing blockages, there should be no false alarms. If such situations are repeated, the entire assembly is changed.
The oil sensor is serviceable, but the “oil light” is still lit?
It is most difficult to determine the breakdown if the oil sensor is serviceable and works in the normal mode. First of all, the owner of the vehicle checks the level of lubrication with the standard dipstick. If the amount of liquid in the crankcase gradually increases, most likely gasoline or antifreeze gets into the oil. To confirm the guess, the dipstick is lowered into a container with water. In the presence of gasoline streaks, a visit to the car service and subsequent repair is necessary.
Breakdowns of the power unit, due to which the indication appears in the form of an oil bottle, it is easy to notice independently. Most often, the car becomes sluggish. Poorly accelerates, traction and power are lost. At the same time, an increase in fuel consumption and the appearance of thick exhaust is recorded.
In winter, the indication can appear when starting a cold engine and low temperatures. Such an effect is not a breakdown. After a few seconds, the light bulb goes out. The reason is the thickening of the lubricant and its flow to the lower part of the motor. It takes time for the motor to fill all the ducts with grease. This is the reason why the indication remains on, in most cases for no more than 3 seconds. Once the oil has been distributed to the channels, the indication disappears.