Check oil light - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

playastarkz123 · 01-24-2010, 01:00 PM

So i was driving last night when all of sudden my Check oil light comes on. At this point the oil had been warmed up, my oil pressure gauge was reading around 5 - 8 psi.

When i reached my destination i shut off the car, a few hours later came back to drive home and started the car (cold start). My oil pressure then reached about 60 psi which then gradually lowered to about 15-10 psi as the car warmed.

This entire time (from when i turn the key) my oil light was still on though!, its to my understanding that the oil sensor trips once it sees anything under .5 bar or 8 psi. so why is it still coming on??

any help is appreciated

BTW: i am running 15W50 oil in a redtop s13 sr20det motor

orion::S14 · 01-24-2010, 02:37 PM

For one, it's a "turn the motor OFF NOW" light...not a "check oil" light.

If it comes on, the motor DOES NOT have enough pressure to safely operate...it's set to 5-6psi, IIRC.

BUT, it sounds like your sensor is dead...not uncommon. If you have a oil pressure gauge that's reading OK...then you can use that.

- Brian

playastarkz123 · 01-24-2010, 04:18 PM

"TURN MOTOR OFF NOW" light, got it LOL...ok so i guess ill just shop around for new sensor, hopefully the problem is solved with that, and thers not something else going on here.

projectRDM · 01-24-2010, 05:21 PM

It's threads like this that really make me doubt intelligence.

There is no 'check oil' light on any Schassis. Or even very few cars period. You can have 1 quart of oil, or 10 quarts of oil, the oil pressure switch will only tell you pressure.

For anyone who remotely cares about their car, that switch is removed, thrown away, and plugged and a proper gauge is installed in it's place. Relying on a leaking OE switch that is only safe to trip when the engine is at hot idle is stupid.

BlitzRPS13 · 01-24-2010, 05:40 PM

Is your oil pan dented?

s14unimog · 01-25-2010, 10:08 AM

Doesn't that oil pressure seem really low, especially for a 15w-50? I run 15w-40 and usually have about 90psi at start up and once completely warmed up/beat on my idle pressure is around 20psi...

It should be a general rule of thumb, if that light ever comes on just shut it off immediately; its not worth the risk. It may be a faulty sensor but you don't know that for sure....

I second what Russ said, don't risk relying on that sensor. If you have a lot of money in your engine, its just dumb not to monitor the basic fluids.

playastarkz123 · 01-25-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectRDM

It's threads like this that really make me doubt intelligence.

There is no 'check oil' light on any Schassis. Or even very few cars period. You can have 1 quart of oil, or 10 quarts of oil, the oil pressure switch will only tell you pressure.

For anyone who remotely cares about their car, that switch is removed, thrown away, and plugged and a proper gauge is installed in it's place. Relying on a leaking OE switch that is only safe to trip when the engine is at hot idle is stupid.

OK bro i obviously know what the light is for if u read the OP, my bad for calling it the by wrong name or watever...and i do have a proper oil pressure gauge installed also,

I was simply asking if there is an explanation as to why my "LOW OIL PRESSURE" light comes on when the oil pressure isnt that low

cotbu · 01-25-2010, 11:29 PM

If you still have the plug or wiring around, then maybe it's grounding somewhere.
I never removed mine, figured I'd use it to verify launch control mode. But whatever.

01-24-2010, 01:00 PM	#1
playastarkz123 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Age: 35 Posts: 328 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Check oil light So i was driving last night when all of sudden my Check oil light comes on. At this point the oil had been warmed up, my oil pressure gauge was reading around 5 - 8 psi. When i reached my destination i shut off the car, a few hours later came back to drive home and started the car (cold start). My oil pressure then reached about 60 psi which then gradually lowered to about 15-10 psi as the car warmed. This entire time (from when i turn the key) my oil light was still on though!, its to my understanding that the oil sensor trips once it sees anything under .5 bar or 8 psi. so why is it still coming on?? any help is appreciated BTW: i am running 15W50 oil in a redtop s13 sr20det motor __________________ www.teamirrational.wordpress.com

01-24-2010, 02:37 PM	#2
orion::S14 Nissanaholic! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 1,666 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	For one, it's a "turn the motor OFF NOW" light...not a "check oil" light. If it comes on, the motor DOES NOT have enough pressure to safely operate...it's set to 5-6psi, IIRC. BUT, it sounds like your sensor is dead...not uncommon. If you have a oil pressure gauge that's reading OK...then you can use that. - Brian __________________ www.KA24DEvelopment.com

01-24-2010, 04:18 PM	#3
playastarkz123 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Age: 35 Posts: 328 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	"TURN MOTOR OFF NOW" light, got it LOL...ok so i guess ill just shop around for new sensor, hopefully the problem is solved with that, and thers not something else going on here. __________________ www.teamirrational.wordpress.com

01-24-2010, 05:21 PM	#4
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	It's threads like this that really make me doubt intelligence. There is no 'check oil' light on any Schassis. Or even very few cars period. You can have 1 quart of oil, or 10 quarts of oil, the oil pressure switch will only tell you pressure. For anyone who remotely cares about their car, that switch is removed, thrown away, and plugged and a proper gauge is installed in it's place. Relying on a leaking OE switch that is only safe to trip when the engine is at hot idle is stupid. __________________ FORMERLY R240NA Learn what's really going on and protect your assets now before they're gone forever: www.paypalsucks.com

01-25-2010, 10:08 AM	#6
s14unimog Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In a place, near a river, over a lake Age: 38 Posts: 2,415 Trader Rating: (22) Rides Gallery: s14unimog Feedback Score: 22 reviews	Doesn't that oil pressure seem really low, especially for a 15w-50? I run 15w-40 and usually have about 90psi at start up and once completely warmed up/beat on my idle pressure is around 20psi... It should be a general rule of thumb, if that light ever comes on just shut it off immediately; its not worth the risk. It may be a faulty sensor but you don't know that for sure.... I second what Russ said, don't risk relying on that sensor. If you have a lot of money in your engine, its just dumb not to monitor the basic fluids. __________________ Fuking ginger bread man stole my wallet... SHIFT*lock_slide to side d3m3rs0n: if i have a baby im naming it Brandons Fault Emerson

01-24-2010, 05:40 PM	#5
BlitzRPS13 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 244 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Is your oil pan dented?

01-25-2010, 11:29 PM	#8
cotbu Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SWFL Age: 50 Posts: 3,318 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	If you still have the plug or wiring around, then maybe it's grounding somewhere. I never removed mine, figured I'd use it to verify launch control mode. But whatever. __________________ LoverTechnologies "Half Broken Things!"