Driving with the oil light on

[Gucci]

The good lady has rung me on her way back from Reading. The oil light has come on. It does go out occasionally, but it doesn't surprise me that it needs a top up. Question is, will it be ok to drive back home (40 miles) with the oil light on?

 

[Sp!ke]

Why risk it?

Stick a litre of oil in it and see if this sorts it. I wouldnt advise ever driving with the oil light on.

 

[television]

No you must stop the car and check the level, if low the oil can go over to one side on a roundabout of heavy braking

 

[Vlad]

Not the best of ideas....just get her to stop at the nearest garage and buy a litre of 10/40 and if she doesn't feel happy about putting it in I'm sure another motorist will help her out and if she's in Caversham, then I'll pop round and do it for her.

 

[Dieselman]

The good lady has rung me on her way back from Reading. The oil light has come on.

If this is the low oil level warning then there is nothing to worry about inthe short term, if however it's the oil pressure going low then it must be dealt with immediately.

 

[DieselE]

Once you get the car home you should check to find the cause. The oil warning light is a low pressure warning not low level.

The oil pump inlet is very low in the sump. If the warning light comes on during normal driving (other than a quick flicker during a violent manoeuvre) then for low level to be the cause would imply virtually no oil in the engine.

It's too late for this incident but my advice if the oil warning light comes on when driving is pull in to the side of the road, shut the engine down and ring Mobilo.

 

[television]

Just in case anyone wondered why Langa posted this thánk you post, going round rounderbouts he had a scraping rattle sound and I said oil low, though no indication came on the Dash, and I was right. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=50234

 

[Gucci]

The good lady has pulled over and is now fully...errrr..lubricated. The oil level was low and the light flicked on and off - not permanently on. It also did this when going round a roundabout, so all points to running low on oil anyway. She hasn't rung back (which she would if the light came on again). Thanks for your help and advice as ever guys.

 

[DieselE]

I'd be interested to know just how much oil had to be added to bring the level to the max mark on the dipstick (or to stop the system asking for oil if you have the electronic system).

 

[television]

I'd be interested to know just how much oil had to be added to bring the level to the max mark on the dipstick (or to stop the system asking for oil if you have the electronic system).

The car that I answered on took 2 liters

 

[Gucci]

1 litre has kept the oil light off, but I reckon there's plenty of room for more. Not long til the next service, should be fine for now.

 

[DieselE]

If your car has Assyst Plus then topping up the oil will extend the time to the next service. Your choice obviously but running a car with the oil level at the minimum possible is not something I would do.

 

[Brian WH]

If your car has Assyst Plus then topping up the oil will extend the time to the next service. Your choice obviously but running a car with the oil level at the minimum possible is not something I would do.

I agree entirely.

Top it up properly and extend the time to the next service is my advise.

 

[spock500]

I agree entirely.

Top it up properly and extend the time to the next service is my advise.

Agreed, thats taking a lot for granted nothing like using the dip stick to check actually level rather than a warning light

 

[Brian WH]

Agreed, thats taking a lot for granted nothing like using the dip stick to check actually level rather than a warning light

But we were talking about only putting one litre in when it was calling for two??