Oil Light problem

[Nosnam]

Can anyone advise please? Not very technical at all so apologies in advance!

Oil light appears when idling but disappears at slightest touch of accelerator. Have checked Oil and levels seems ok.
Light only appears after about 10 miles and (not sure if imagination or not!!) burning oil smell.

Anyone advise on possible problem/solution?
Again apologies if a stupid question but have no idea about under the bonnet!
Kind regards

 

[Tom]

Go to a fiat garage ASAP!

Whats the age, milage and model of your car?

 

[Chris]

Oil Light

66,00 miles -
S plate
Brava 1.4.

Manual advises that this normally would happen if the engine had been 'taxed' but this isn't the case.

 

[Tom]

Re: Oil Light

Most likely the oil pressure regulator is stuck open.

 

[Chris]

Oil Light

Cheers for this!
So much better that somebody can give an indication of what the problem maybe!

Better remortgage then before I take it in.

 

[deckchair]

Re: Oil Light

Might be just the oil pressure switch. Cheap and cheerful to replace. You've got some kind of oil pressure as soon as you're above tickover so that's promising. Be nice to stick an oil pressure gauge on it though.

Change the switch and see if that's the cause

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Oil Light

It won't be the switch

 

[Deckchair]

Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

Why not the oil presssure switch Tom? The switch senses oil pressure and if it's "tired" it will light the dashboard warning light at higher pressures than it should. The fact it "goes out the moment the gas is pressed" means its right on the trigger limit. With an older engine producing generally lower oil pressure and an inaccurate pressure switch then it fits the symptoms exactly.

Only one way to be certain, stick on oil pressure gauge on it

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

The oil pressure switch activates about 10-15psi, far less than the correct engine pressure of 50-60psi.

If the switch is 'tired' as you put it, it will switch at a lower pressure NOT a higher pressure.

 

[Deckchair]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

If the switch is switching at 50psi when it should be switching at 15psi then it is switching at HIGHER pressures than it should!

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

But it won't be.

 

[Deckchair]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

And the reason why a pressure switch (one of the most commonly replaced engine items) never goes wrong is?.........:~)

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

They never go wrong in the way you say, 99% of the time they just stop operating at all so the light never comes on, the rest of the time they leak.

 

[Deckchair]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Oil Light

I've replaced 3 oil pressure switches on 60K plus engines giving exactly the same symptoms of just flickering on at tickover on hot engine (ie lowest possible oil pressure)

Lets face it, it either IS low oil pressure or it's the sensing device. Getting an oil pressure gauge fixed up on it will give the definitive answer but until then, an oil pressure switch change is a cheap test to eliminate which is the cause