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WARNING The suggestions given on this webpage are for emergency use only. In certain circumstances, using improvised parts to make car repairs can invalidate your car warranty. Do so only as a strictly temporary measure, and when driving conditions in your judgement make such repairs safe. |
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Beware . . . the oil warning light warns that the oil pressure inside the engine is so low that there is an imminent danger of the engine seizing. When carrying out any check involving running the engine after the warning light has come on, switch off immediately you detect any increase in engine noise or temperature |
What to do when: Oil warning light comes on!
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What it could mean |
Oil leaked or burnt. If there is no oil on the dipstick you must establish where it is leaking before refilling. If you haven't checked the oil for some time but have covered a high mileage it may simply have been used by the engine. If you have checked the oil recently look for leaks at the sump drain plug (a) and check it is tight and that the filter (b) is in place and secure. Check timing cover (c), gearbox seal (d), and oil pressure switch (e). Did you just run over something? It may have caused serious damage!
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Faulty oil pressure switch. If your oil level is normal the fault may simply lie with the oil pressure switch or the wiring between it and the warning light. The oil pressure switch is turned on with the ignition and switched off by oil pressure. Hence it is likely that either a fault in the switch or a short circuit in the wiring will cause the warning light to come on.
Circulation failure. Circulation faults may be due to a faulty oil pump, a blockage in the oil passages or even a dented sump which may have blocked an internal oilway. Depending on its cause a circulation failure will result in all or part of the engine receiving no oil. An engine suffering from this fault will become very noisy, very hot and finally seize — all in a matter of moments.
Badly worn engine. It is not 'uncommon for a badly worn engine to lose oil pressure as it gets hot — and to regain it once cool.
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Dipstick shows no oil |
Dipstick shows oil level normal |
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What you can do |
A missing sump plug can be replaced with a cork, a piece of wood or a large nut packed out with PVC tape.
A leaking oil filter is most likely to be due to a misaligned or damaged sealing ring. If the ring is unserviceable you may be able to slow the loss with a substitute ring made from an old inner tube, hose rubber or even a piece of string. If the filter is cracked, try covering it with a plastic bag tied tightly in place. Taping the split with duct tape first will increase your chances of success. You will find that as you run the engine the bag will slowly fill with oil, but provided your oil warning light stays out it is safe to continue.
A serious oil leak is most likely to be due to either a component coming loose or a missing or failed gasket. A leak bad enough to empty the sump will be very obvious. Simply retighten the component, packing its threads with PTFE tape if stripped, or make a new gasket from cardboard — or liquid gasket cement.
Refill the system once you are sure that it is sound using a suitable engine oil. There is no substitute — cooking oil or fuel oil are both thinner and could easily ignite. If you haven't far to travel and consider the risk worth it you could refill your engine with waste oil — often available from council dumps, farms or factories.
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A faulty oil pressure switch can be confirmed in two ways. First remove its electrical lead. If the warning light stays on there must be a short in the wiring. If the light goes off you will have to check the switch by substituting it with a good one, swapped from another similar car if necessary. A faulty switch or shorted wiring can safely be ignored until you reach your destination.
A circulation fault can often be checked by removing the oil filler cap and then starting the engine gently. If the oil is circulating normally you should see it splashing about. If you do then it is probably safe for you to drive on — but watch out for the warning signs of increased temperature and noise. If no oil is evident then switch off immediately. Although this test does not conclusively prove that a fault exists, you risk a total engine seizure if you keep driving.
A worn engine with low oil pressure will often run for hundreds of miles without a problem. You should, however, avoid overheating the engine and use a slightly thicker engine oil. Even taking these precautions you are driving on borrowed time.
If the oil leaks . . . Some oil leaks can be impossible to mend on the side of the road. But you may be able to drive with the leak. Buy plenty of oil, and stop frequently to check the level. It may be cheaper to buy several large cans of oil than to pay for a tow — and no damage is done.
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The legal stuff
© David Ashton 2007 | PO Box 12 Charlestown NSW 2290 | ABN 39223105179 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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