oil pressure light, i think????????

[ryant]

So I'm driving my recently purchased (about 2 months ago) 1986 325e, when I get a red oil light on the dash. I'm assuming oil pressure light? what causes this? and should i be concerned? By the way I was leaving my apt complex when it came on , and decided to park i and take my other vehicle. so I havent driven it more than about 100 yds with the light on. Also after shutting it off and letting it sit overnight the light came back on after about 5 mins,idleing. any help is greatly appreciated.

[ryant]

re: oil light

also the engine sounded normal, well the idle is a lil jumpy, but has been since ive owned it.

[JAM]

how about you check your oil.

[ryant]

did that, oil level fine!

[MikeE30325i]

this means that you have lost oil pressure most likely.

though i drove around for a good while with no oil cap on and the light did not come on.

[ryant]

what would cause my engine to lose oil pressure?????????? any help would be great!

[NC325iC]

bad pump
clogged lines

[MikeE30325i]

hhmmm, i am not too sure, but since you say that there is an appropriate amount of oil in the car, that means that it isnt leaking from a cracked or broken piece. your fuel pump might be broken, and even though you have oil in the car, it might just be sitting in the bottom of the engine not being circulated through the engine. with the car running take off the oil cap and see if it spews out a good amount of oil. if not too much comes out, then your fuel pump might be out.

but hopefully someone else on the forum will come and help with more info.

[euroshark]

Sea Foam in the oil sucka! Then change that shit. You probably have crap in your pump.

[ryant]

funny you mentioned seafoam, i just got off the phone with my brother, and he said the same thing, seafoam it and change the oil. guess ill give that a shot. he also said maybe clogged oil filter, or bad oil pump. so i guess oil and filter change???????? and thanks for quick replies! how would you check the oil pump????????

[ANDRÜ]

If you ever get this light when driving, stop the car immidiately. VERY bad if you keep driving. It could be a small fluke like what was mentioned before, but if it stays on, dont start the car.

[jlevie]

Dont' know if it might apply here, but I've seen this happen when an oil filter collapsed. I'd change the filter to start with. And I'd throw a gauge on to see if the oil pressure is actually low or if the oil pressure sensor has failed.

[ryant]

good looking out guys, ill put a gauge on it this weekend, and see whats going on with it! thanks for all the responses!!!!!!!

[ryant]

so i got a chance to investigate the oil pressure light, and I located what i think is the oil pressure sender, (pass side near bottom of oil pan, single wire attatched?????) is it possible to disconnect the sender w/out cutting the wire, or is it hard wired to the sender (soldered or something?) i couldn't find a disconnect anywhere. I followed the wire back as far as i could , but it ran into a harness. and i didnt want to just start pulling at where it connects to the sender.

[backtrail69]

You have to pull off a little metal retaining clip on the connector on the sensor.