engine oil warning light

dan_the_v8man · Unread post by **dan_the_v8man** » 14 Nov 2006, 17:37

the engine oil warning light keeps appearing when i start my 94 xantia 1.9td

it has only started to do this recently, but was only a couple of weeks ago since i put a litre of oil in it.

is this anything to worry about or is it just low pressure with the engine starting?

CHeers

Dan

slim123 · Unread post by **slim123** » 14 Nov 2006, 17:46

Any oil light would be a worry, as this is the first warning of major doo doos.

Having said that, these engines are not known for oil pump problems, so the chances are it's a dodgy pressure switch. Replacement is cheap and easy so worth doing, but if the light still comes on after, then personaly, I would remove the sump and check the strainer at the oil pump pick up.

The strainer is quite fine, if the engine has been flushed in the past, this can wash the crud down to the bottem of the sump, this will then get sucked up into the stainer and block it.

Just a small warning here, if you are going to flush the engine, it is worth removing the sump afterwards to get the crud out, because if you dont, it can come back to bite you when you least expect it.

Regards
Slim

dan_the_v8man · Unread post by **dan_the_v8man** » 14 Nov 2006, 17:49

just seems strange that its only on start up

np · Unread post by np » 14 Nov 2006, 18:44

Is it the red warning light,or the orange flashing warning light?

windysurferuk · Unread post by **windysurferuk** » 14 Nov 2006, 19:06

Mine Xantia has always done this and so did my ZX.
In the handbook it says this is low oil level warning light but the level on both cars was correct

dan_the_v8man · Unread post by **dan_the_v8man** » 14 Nov 2006, 19:17

well i know the level is correct

and yes it is the yellow flashing one. i'll check again in half an hour when i start the car

np · Unread post by np » 14 Nov 2006, 19:25

Then its telling you the level is low.Mine was like that.The dip stick would show the level as being fine,although the light would flash on start up.I just kept topping it up as & when.The sensor must be very sensitive,or they get worse through old age.
On another note,we run 6X6 Volvo off road dumptrucks.Computers for everything,& sensors for all oil levels.They suffer the same things,more so on transmission level.The warning buzzer & stop light will come on,but when you pull the dip stick out the level is fine.Just too sensitive.

Stewart(oily) · Unread post by **Stewart(oily)** » 14 Nov 2006, 19:57

My Mk2 Xantia began to flash the orange light at me when I pulled onto a kerb, the oil level turned out to be very slightly below the top mark, I think the switch is just very sensitive.
Stewart

dan_the_v8man · Unread post by **dan_the_v8man** » 14 Nov 2006, 21:10

fair enough, i'll keep an eye on the oil level myself then, make sure it aint burning it up

slim123 · Unread post by **slim123** » 14 Nov 2006, 23:22

I think that you will find that the orange light is oil temp, not pressure, this is to tell you not to thrash the car yet as the oil temperature is too cold.

The red light is pressure.

Regards
Slim

Clogzz · Unread post by **Clogzz** » 15 Nov 2006, 12:04

It’s very common for the oil level light to flash at start-up when the car is parked at an angle.
It’s the orange light at the very right of the top row of lights in the left side cluster.
There’s got to be a bit more oil in the sump than the dipstick’s maximum indication.
Not too much more in a diesel though, the engine may suck the oil in to consume it as fuel, and wreck itself.

Story here:
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=18516