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| SimonDavies Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: Swansea Posts: 244   
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I am after a bit of advice and I'll start by saying I don't think this is the right way to go about things, but I welcome your comments.
Following an hour plus motorway journey and coming back to a standstill where the engine is idling, my oil light will flicker. A quick rev will knock it off again, but it won't stay off for long. This is the only time my oil light will come on (excl ignition). When things cool and I'm talking only 10 minutes later of that, there is no light. I have replaced the oil pressure sensor thinking it could be that. No joy. I'm thinking the fault is probably the oil pump not doing its job as efficiently when the oil is thinner. For this reason, my question is, can I use a thicker engine oil to overcome this, rather than changing the pump? What are your opinions on my problem? Do you know of a thicker, recommended engine oil? What would you do? Thanks and sorry for blabbing a little. Simon |
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6th Jun 2016 8:58pm |
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| SimonDavies Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: Swansea Posts: 244
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Thanks for the response.
I just can't get my head around why it will only happen under the single circumstance. |
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6th Jun 2016 9:47pm |
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| Disco_Mikey Member Since: 16 Nov 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 531  
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What brand of oil filter was fitted at last service? Aftermarket filters are known to cause pressure issues
Only fit OEM or genuine  |
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6th Jun 2016 9:47pm |
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| SimonDavies Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: Swansea Posts: 244
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Off the top of my head, I'd say mahle.
I would like to try another oil change with a genuine filter. |
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6th Jun 2016 9:59pm |
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| HardCharger Member Since: 03 Mar 2013 Location: Manila Posts: 740  
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Have you checked the oil level? It may be possible that your engine or turbo maybe consuming the oil causing the level to go down enough to make the warning light come on. If this is the case, top off and monitor the oil level. In the event that you have to keep topping up, I'd look for the reason why, usually, it's the turbo that't the culprit.
I hope this helps. |
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7th Jun 2016 2:24am |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3645  
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Hi Simon
a bit worrying! couple of questions, 1/ what mileage has the engine done? 2/ has it ever run low on oil? 3/ what oil was used at last service and is it correct grade? 4/ has it ever missed a service? 5/ has it had any work done on the engine? 6/ has it ever been in deep water? 7/ does the oil level go up or down? if none of the above point to a cause then if you have changed the pressure switch, then I would firstly change the oil and filter to see if that makes any difference as others have said use a good quality filter and the correct grade oil. if the issue persists then I would test the oil pressure with a gauge and compare it to what the workshop manual says it should be at idle and at increased revs, if the pressure is low then I would consider changing the pump which can be accessed through the sump, however if the problem is elsewhere in the engine changing the pump may not cure the problem. I have known engines with very little oil pressure at idle live long and happy lives especially if the pressure picks up above idle. I would not resort to a thicker oil which might give higher oil pressure as that does not necessarily equate to the oil getting to where it needs to be. DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS, I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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7th Jun 2016 4:50am |
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| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6611 
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A Mahle filter will be fine
 1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
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7th Jun 2016 8:40am |
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| SimonDavies Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: Swansea Posts: 244
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Thanks for the replies so far.
Lr90 - I'll answer your questions this evening when I finish work. |
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7th Jun 2016 9:19am |
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| Stripygitface Member Since: 16 Sep 2014 Location: Kent Posts: 78 |
Another very basic thing to check, which I had on a 200tdi, was the oil light was flickering on tickover, and the oil level appeared correct!
However, the Dipstick tube had been pushed inside the engine block, over time, therefore dipstick level was correct, but infact the engine was actually low on oil |
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7th Jun 2016 10:24am |
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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4709 
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As mentioned earlier a Mahle filter is fine. I would check that the correct grade and specification of oil was used. I'm assuming you have no leaks from the filter housing but it might be worth checking that the filter housing is securely fitted and that the "O" ring is seated correctly i.e. no kinks when fitted. Any oil leaks will be evident where the filter housing meets the engine.
Simple test will be to buy the correct oil and filter (Mahle are good and I've used them myself) and do an oil and filter change. If this does not eliminate the problem you will have to investigate further as mentioned in other posts. In older cars , like my series 111, if a modern thin type oil is used the oil light will flicker while idling as the oil pressure is down on the older type thicker oils but a touch of the accelerator puts it out. That is why I asked if the correct grade/spec. of oil was used in yours. Also a badly blocked filter could cause this. This would be a filter that was not changed and been left on well past it's recommended time span. This would hardly be an issue with you. Hope you get to the bottom of this, it's usually caused by something simple. It's trying to pin it down that's the problem. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel 1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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9th Jun 2016 2:19pm |
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