Technical Oil pressure warning

[Mikefraser93]

Hello just wondering if anyone can help as not sure what else to do.

When the car starts in tje morning it tells me low oil pressure, but if I slightly rev it, it immediately goes, then when it comes back to idle it comes back. And it's only for 3 or 4 minutes. Then it's fine for the rest of the day. I serviced it with new oil, the correct oil for it and it made no difference, so I put slightly thicker oil in and it made no difference. But a new pressure sensor in hoping it was that. Still same


Not sure what else to try. Engine sounds fine not tappy or anything.

 

[Greasytrucker]

Hello just wondering if anyone can help as not sure what else to do.

When the car starts in tje morning it tells me low oil pressure, but if I slightly rev it, it immediately goes, then when it comes back to idle it comes back. And it's only for 3 or 4 minutes. Then it's fine for the rest of the day. I serviced it with new oil, the correct oil for it and it made no difference, so I put slightly thicker oil in and it made no difference. But a new pressure sensor in hoping it was that. Still same


Not sure what else to try. Engine sounds fine not tappy or anything.

What engine, what mileage? Have you had the car a while or just purchased? You’d expect low oil pressure once the engine has warmed up and the oil thins rather than when started from cold so something doesn’t sound right. Was the replacement sensor a new one? If so how cheap did you go on it? Sorry for all the questions but someone with the same engine might be able to help you if they know this extra info

 

[RalphM]

Did you change the filter? other than that check the oil pressure with a gauge
screwed into the place the oil light switch is fitted and change that switch wile
it's out, the switch is the most likely problem.

 

[Mikefraser93]

Hello thank you for replying. It's a 1.2 2009 and it has 119000. And no had car for year and a half and it's been last 6 months it's been doing it. It was a febi bilstein replacement pressure sensor. And it's when the engine is cold and been sat, I presumed ifs because all the oil has ran back to the bottom and that's why it does it. And yes it's had blueprint oil filters both times I've changed it

 

[Greasytrucker]

Hello thank you for replying. It's a 1.2 2009 and it has 119000. And no had car for year and a half and it's been last 6 months it's been doing it. It was a febi bilstein replacement pressure sensor. And it's when the engine is cold and been sat, I presumed ifs because all the oil has ran back to the bottom and that's why it does it. And yes it's had blueprint oil filters both times I've changed it

Then as @RalphM suggested i’d be looking at purchasing a manual gauge to screw in where the sensor normally goes and then fire it up and see what it’s actually doing, at least if you know there is sufficient pressure there then it’s safe to drive without fear of engine damage. Then you can explore other avenues

 

[Mikefraser93]

What pressure should the car have?

 

[Greasytrucker]

What pressure should the car have?

A bit above my pay grade that one I’m sure with a bit of research the figures are easily obtainable, someone else reading this will probably chip in and tell you what a healthy reading should be. That’s what i’d be doing anyway. You could always start a new thread asking what healthy oil pressure in a 1.2 engine should be and i’m sure you’ll soon get a reply

 

[varesecrazy]

Hello thank you for replying. It's a 1.2 2009 and it has 119000. And no had car for year and a half and it's been last 6 months it's been doing it. It was a febi bilstein replacement pressure sensor. And it's when the engine is cold and been sat, I presumed ifs because all the oil has ran back to the bottom and that's why it does it.

And yes it's had blueprint oil filters both times I've changed it

They are Not all built the same,

We do see filter issues on the 500/ panda occasionally

@£20 for a Bosch or MANN and a litre of oil.. Worth a try in my experience

 

[varesecrazy]

I see this is a Followup post from last October

Was it any different over the winter?

Better in the now warm conditions?

People have shown "cut open" filters, showing just how "cheap" some have become

No valves and only @30% of the filtration offered by better Brands

 

[RalphM]

Did it do it before you fitted the blueprint filter, if it's a inverted type it likely should have a one way valve
as in the last post to stop the oil running back and emptying the filter.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Did it do it before you fitted the blueprint filter, if it's a inverted type it likely should have a one way valve
as in the last post to stop the oil running back and emptying the filter.

Blueprint stuff I rate highly. I doubt its that unless faulty. I suspect oil pump. Worth dropping the sump. Clean and paint it while off. Maybe replace the oil pump. There is a level sensor that has been known to play up. Carefully check the pressure switch is still earthed properly too there is a post about this on here. I think.it may be in the 500 forum.

 

[Mikefraser93]

No it isn't any worse over winter it's been same for months now. Mechanic friend who worked for fiat recommend doing a flush and a oil service but with thicker oil, tried that still same. And yes it did it before blueprint filter, as far as I know blueprint are one of tje best aftermarket filters. Think this car is just cursed

 

[John202020]

Clogged strainer?
I always buy a genuine Fiat filter it's only £12 online

 

[Mikefraser93]

If it was oil pump or pick up would it not do it randomly or all the time? When my mazda would block up (which was far too often) I'd get tje oil warning light and you could hear the engine starving of oil. This fiat sounds absolutely fine

 

[Mikefraser93]

Just an update on this. I was having an issue with stop start not working also so added a new earth cable which has fixed that and since then not had a fault with oil pressure so who knows. Temperamental Italian electronics maybe

 

[RalphM]

A bad earth can effect any electrical system on the car

 

[ZaphodB]

A bad earth can effect any electrical system on the car

Yep, every "thing" needs as much a good supply as a return path. (absolutely and positively (pun intended) as important)

Oil pressure sender gets its return from the engine block, and the engine block .... you know the rest and you've replaced that return.

 

[steveras57]

With the amount of problems that are caused by the blinking earth strap! perhaps we should all consider fitting iron tyres , the ride comforts anyways so wont make much difference to that!. and rubbers overrated imo!.

 

[RalphM]

The problem is that if the earth strap is not good the return will try to find another path this can be
through any circuit and it will feed back upsetting any electrickery on the way, so on the face of it
totally unrelated systems will be effected.

 

[ZaphodB]

The problem is that if the earth strap is not good the return will try to find another path this can be
through any circuit and it will feed back upsetting any electrickery on the way, so on the face of it
totally unrelated systems will be effected.

AKA (one of) the oldest poor earthing faults on vehicles:

The indicators finding their earth through the brake/S&T filament(s) and vice-versa on way old cars with dodgy earth connections.
(Both lights are dimmer and both lights are on cos the 12V is shared between the two.)