Oil pressure should I worry or just ignore it.

Dec 29, 2003 6 Replies

That oil pressure light came on again and stayed on for about a minute as I drove round to the local shops, but after the engine had been running a bit it returned to its normal habit of only flashing on when the revs go very low.



I know that the worry warts would say you should not drive at all when the green light is on, but it does not seem to be doing any harm.



Is my engine bombproof ?



What is the most likely problem if it is not the pump (which I am guessing to be the second most likely cause after the cold)



Larry

The very first thing to do is check it actually has some oil in it. The second thing is to either swap the pressure sensor for a new on or fit a gauge so you know exactly what the pressure is.

If pressure is low, the next port of call would be the pumps pressure relief valve, if that's OK, then blame the pump, and if that's OK, then its a crank re-grind and new shells.

Lofty

Engine oil level low or as you say, the oil pump. Last time I saw something like that happen, I had to totally rebuild the engine. It had been run with the oil lamp on for a couple of minutes. But it wasn't a Land Rover, it was an MB.

Be careful, alos use correct oil for the temperature.

Dag

On or around Mon, 29 Dec 2003 23:01:03 -0000, "Larry" enlightened us thusly:

which engine?

low oil level.

On or around Mon, 29 Dec 2003 23:01:03 -0000, "Larry" enlightened us thusly:

oh and very old oil, too. If you've not changed it, do so.

old oil gets thin.

Yes the oil is the same oil that was in it when I bought it. I guess a change would do no harm it doesn't look all that nice :)

If it needs a crank regrind it is not worth bothering with as the last engine I had with a worn crank was leaking all over the place and this engine is not weeping oil so much as burning it.

I have been ignoring the light so far and suffered no ill effects as after about three miles or so it behaves as normal.

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