Just recently bought my dream car - 1971 Fiat 500 L - may have been a slight pipe dream as I have no mechanical knowledge at all but I am willing to learn! Workshop manual bought, helpful guides from here downloaded...

First shout for help - oil light came on after a 20min drive just now. Checked oil levels as recommended here and still between min and max. Should I add oil or leave it? Know has a slight oil leak somewhere as dripped a bit on mate's drive...

Any help greatly appreciated!

Velma1976 said:

Just recently bought my dream car - 1971 Fiat 500 L - may have been a slight pipe dream as I have no mechanical knowledge at all but I am willing to learn! Workshop manual bought, helpful guides from here downloaded...

First shout for help - oil light came on after a 20min drive just now. Checked oil levels as recommended here and still between min and max. Should I add oil or leave it? Know has a slight oil leak somewhere as dripped a bit on mate's drive...

Any help greatly appreciated!

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Do not drive it at all what so ever anywhere until you get the cause of the oil light being on fixed.

The oil light comes on when the oil pressure in the engine is too low.

You did the right thing checking the oil level on the dipstick, if as you say the level is between max and min you don't need to add oil.

Was the oil light on all the time or just when engine at idle speed?
Did you buy from a dealer or private seller?
When was car last serviced?
Roughly where do you live? Keep your fingers xed an experienced classic owner is nearby and willing to help.

Plus its very pretty .

I think she's gorgeous!

Bought from private seller. Light came on when driving and then stayed on - was taking it over to my garage in Surbiton tomorrow to be checked over anyway (in Hampton, Middx). Guess can only do that?! Will it be OK to drive there? Not sure what else to do...

Where about in the UK are you? Did the oil light come on whilst you were driving, or only when the engine was idling? After a 20 min drive, the engine can be hot enough that the oil light will come on when the engine is idling--as long as it goes out as soon as you rev the engine, this is permissible. If the light comes on when you are driving, STOP, and sort the problem out. With a bit of luck you will have another 500 owner not too far from you who can help--something most 500 owners like to do.

Stayed on when driving, not just idling. Just drove it home (maybe was a mile with it on?) Hopefully haven't damaged her!!!! In Hampton, Middx. Will ask at my garage tomorrow if they have any genius ideas, unless anyone on here is local and can offer advice. Thanks both so far...

Velma1976 said:

Stayed on when driving, not just idling. Just drove it home (maybe was a mile with it on?) Hopefully haven't damaged her!!!! In Hampton, Middx. Will ask at my garage tomorrow if they have any genius ideas, unless anyone on here is local and can offer advice. Thanks both so far...

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Do not drive it any further what so ever with the light on .
Do not even run the engine till fixed.

You will either have to get your break down service to deliver it to your garage or ask your garage to tow it to their workshop.

If while driving a classic car the oil light comes on you must stop immediately and turn off engine.

Pray that the light is on due to a wiring fault not because of no oil pressure.

ok, great thanks. Good to know. Clearly owning this beauty is going to be an induction by fire! Thanks for your help...

I have to say again because it is so important -
Do not start your engine until it's fixed.
If you do and the light is correctly showing there is no oil pressure the engine will be ruined.

Welcome to the forum and gratz on your 500!
When the oil is kinda low and the engine gets very hot, the oil pressure light may turn on (usually faintly). I can't help but join every one else and tell you that you shouldn't drive the car and turn the engine off as soon as the oil pressure appears to be too low, cause no matter what the cause, the engine might very well get damaged. Sometimes just letting it cool off a bit is enough to be able to drive it back home safely.
I hope nothing bad happened, keep us updated!
Adriano

I would take a slightly different view. If the oil light goes off on cold start then comes on as the engine warms up then you have a worn or some component very worn in the engine and it needs attention. If the oil light is just on all of the time then you either have the next stage on from the above or maybe just a faulty oil light or maybe a core plug dropped out of the crank. Either way if your garage is not a million miles away a gentle drive with zero oil pressure will not do much more harm. After driving my 650ccs engine for over 300 miles including A long stretch flat out on the M1 before I found out that the guy who sold me the car had "fixed the oil light" and I had zero oil pressure. A core plug in the crank and a new set of big end shells got everything sorted for £25 in parts.

Toshi 975 said:

I would take a slightly different view. If the oil light goes off on cold start then comes on as the engine warms up then you have a worn or some component very worn in the engine and it needs attention. If the oil light is just on all of the time then you either have the next stage on from the above or maybe just a faulty oil light or maybe a core plug dropped out of the crank. Either way if your garage is not a million miles away a gentle drive with zero oil pressure will not do much more harm. After driving my 650ccs engine for over 300 miles including A long stretch flat out on the M1 before I found out that the guy who sold me the car had "fixed the oil light" and I had zero oil pressure. A core plug in the crank and a new set of big end shells got everything sorted for £25 in parts.

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To the original poster,

Do not under any circumstances drive your car with the oil light illuminated.

If there is one golden rule to prevent serious engine damage that is it.

I can see where Toshi is coming from and it is worth thinking about what he says as he has a lot of experience at the real "using and repairing end" of Fiat 500s. If the oil light came on after 20 minutes' driving and you can replicate that, then although there probably is going to need to be some engine work in the end, presumably, taking the combined wisdom of all the replies then you have about 20 minute's safe driving. You can cover a few miles to your repair garage in that time, even in the south of England.

I would first phone the seller and ask him to honestly tell you if this is something he has experienced before and does he have an idea what the cause is. I would also ask him what grade of oil he thinks is in the engine and how long it has been in there; in your case I think 20W50 would be correct. Poor quality oil will thin significantly when it gets hot. It is possible that the oil is absolute garbage either by age or type or a combination of both.

well....
why not unscrew the oil pressure switch.....
as you don't have a spare you can probably not swap it...
do not turn on the ignition.. (remove plugs)
place a cloth or something suitable for the mess.. where the pressure switch was...
turn the engine over....
I have done this using a piece of wood to activate the starter motor...
if you have oil squirting out .. well you have oil pressure....
so in which case I would try to locate a new switch - about £5
(as a side issue what colour is the oil?) I would change it anyway...
I would prefer to know what's in it rather than boot sale £4 a jug chip oil

fiat500 said:

I can see where Toshi is coming from and it is worth thinking about what he says as he has a lot of experience at the real "using and repairing end" of Fiat 500s. If the oil light came on after 20 minutes' driving and you can replicate that, then although there probably is going to need to be some engine work in the end, presumably, taking the combined wisdom of all the replies then you have about 20 minute's safe driving. You can cover a few miles to your repair garage in that time, even in the south of England.

I would first phone the seller and ask him to honestly tell you if this is something he has experienced before and does he have an idea what the cause is. I would also ask him what grade of oil he thinks is in the engine and how long it has been in there; in your case I think 20W50 would be correct. Poor quality oil will thin significantly when it gets hot. It is possible that the oil is absolute garbage either by age or type or a combination of both.

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Yes the oil light being on could be a false alarm or it may not be.

If it's your engine you are welcome to take the risk.

If trying to genuinely help someone else why suggest doing something that could result in serious very expensive engine damage.

The op appears perfectly happy to arrange to get her car to her garage.

jackwhoo said:

The op appears perfectly happy to arrange to get her car to her garage.

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....and can use judgement to decide the course of action to take based on the risks that have been explained here in detail. But it is not unhelpful or malicious for people to explain alternative views on the matter. If nothing else this gives the person posting this query, (who points out a complete lack of knowledge on the subject), the benefit of some knowledge gained over many years which might help to avoid being "blinded" and misled when dealing with the garage or repair workshop.

jackwhoo said:

To the original poster,

Do not under any circumstances drive your car with the oil light illuminated.

If there is one golden rule to prevent serious engine damage that is it.

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Calm down

If it all goes bang, I've got a working 500 engine and gearbox here that the OP can have for cost of postage. It takes about 90 minutes to pull the engine and gearbox out and replace. So it's not the end of the world.

Having said that, as per Toshi's post I'm sure it will be fine to drive the small journey to the garage.

Cheers, Steve

thanks all for your advice. Contacted previous owner who suggested it's oil switch. Going to speak to my garage tomorrow and see what they suggest too. I am determined to learn as much as I can to try and do stuff myself. Guess it's going to be a long, interesting process!

These little engines are surprisingly robust---they were built to be driven by a nation who have only 2 throttle positions--fully on/fully off! Also when they were originally built, the quality of lubricating oil was nowhere as good as it is today. For the relatively low cost involved I would be tempted to (a) fit a new oil pressure switch (front, right side of engine crank-case), (b) change the engine oil--a good quality 20/50 will be perfectly adequate and, (c) CLEAN OUT THE OIL FILTER! This last job is often neglected--the filter is the aluminium centre of the crank-shaft pulley (where the fan-belt is--6 bolts--10mm spanner--only the filter cover will come off). It is awkward to get the filter cover off with the rear cross-member in place, but easier than taking the whole cross-member off. With the filter cover off, you will see what looks like 'rubber' in it (and the pulley)--this is the centrifuged muck that has been spun out of the engine oil. Make sure the gunge is cleaned completely from both the inside of the crank-pulley and the filter cover and that there are no bits left that could be circulated round the engine. Although the filter cover will only fit back in one position, I would mark the cover and the pulley (dab of tippex or similar) in order that the filter cover goes back in its correct position 1st time of fitting---it has the timing marks on it, so it is VERY important that it goes back in the correct position. I would also make sure that the electrical connection to the oil-pressure switch is good.
With the above work done, start the engine, let it get nice and hot and see if you still have the problem. The oil light will probably come on when the engine is idling (hot), but MUST go off as soon as you rev it.