Oil Light

[ezterra]

Got a quick question. My oil light comes on in the morning for about 5 minutes then goes off and stays off. I've checked the oil level and it's sitting right in the middle of the hash marks on the dip stick. Right now it seems pretty intermittent on when it happens, but it has been happening the last 3 mornings or so. Any ideas why the oil light comes on then goes off even though the oil level is fine?

Thanks!

 

[Rwhat]

I had the same thing happen. Add oil and the light will go off. The oil sensor is really touchy.

 

[warpdriv]

I had the same thing happen. Add oil and the light will go off. The oil sensor is really touchy.

Which is a good thing.

 

[94SRUNNER]

It is a very good thing that it is very sensitive.

Some guys have pulled the sensor, cleaned it up, and reinstalled with a new gasket/seal.

Either way double check it with dip-stick often.

 

[Kernal]

Same thing happened to me; it was about one quart low. I used to check the oil level cold, but the owners manual says to check it warm after the engine has been off awhile.

 

[ppc]

Your oil level is right on the critical point of triggering the sensor when the oil is cold. The oil heats up and is expanding out of the low range of the sensor circuit.

 

[ezterra]

Thanks fellas. I kind of figured this because my oil level never read below about 1/4 inside the hash marks on the dip stick. I just wanted to make sure something else wasn't going on that I might not be aware of.

 

[maybe_a_80...]

FYI - my oil light comes on about 5 mintues after I turn on the rig. It only happens when I am north or 5,000 miles since the last oil change.

I then check the oil level using the dipstick the next time I am stopped (warm oil). A quart always solves the problem. And then it's time to make time for the next oil change.

Mind you I don't wait for the light to come on to do the oil change every time, but sometimes it goes that way.

 

[wngrog]

Are you talking about the little oil can light? I thought that was oil level, not oil pressure. Is there a light that comes on if the pressure is low or is it just the gauge?