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700/900 Series General Forum for the Volvo 740, 760, 780, 940, 960 & S/V90 cars |
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Oil warning light - odd circumstances.Views : 1205 Replies : 21Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Jan 19th, 2024, 14:17 | #1 |
Offgrid camper
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Oil warning light - odd circumstances.
Now that I'm on the home straight with the ignition and exhaust, I'm turning my attention to the routine maintenance stuff. First, a bit of background. The car is a 1990 745 with a B200E engine. I bought it over a year ago, and it's been on a SORN for that period. I've only driven it for about 5 miles, but I have run up the engine intermittently. Over the last few days, I've idled the engine for an hour or two each day. This is to clear the engine, and look for any problems prior to its MOT. It idles at about 600 rpm, and I'll adjust that when I've replaced the ignition leads etc. I think the previous owner had started to prepare it for an MOT, but gave up to turn his attention to the restoration of a Morris Minor. It looks as if it has a new air filter, and new very clean oil at the max level. However, the oil filter looks as if it has been repainted. For the last couple of days, the oil warning light has been coming on, and only goes out if I take the revs over 1,200. There is a new oil filter still in its box the came with the car.
What could be causing the warning, and what should I do about it? Obviously, I can't change the filter without changing the oil. The only causes I can think of are - blocked oil ways, a blocked filter, or a failed oil pump. My possible solutions are - - Run the warm engine at 3,000 revs every day for about 5 minutes. - Change the oil and the filter. - Although the vehicle is now insured, I can't run it on the road without a valid MOT. - Fit an oil pressure gauge, and check the reading at various rev ranges. - Fit a new oil pump. What would you do?
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Cinderella ( Cinders ) - 1988 Volvo 740 saloon with B230E engine The Hoe - 1990 Volvo 740 estate with B200E engine The House - 2005 LDV Convoy hightop with Ford Transit turbo engine. Save Old Cars |
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Jan 19th, 2024, 14:43 | #2 | |
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Either way, I wouldn't run the car without an oil pressure gauge and new filter/oil. I think measuring oil pressure should be the first priority here. Just my 2 cents.
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Jan 19th, 2024, 15:10 | #3 |
VOC Member since 1986
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Good call re the pressure gauge, SalvadorP. The oil warning light switch itself could be faulty and nothing wrong at all with the engine. It is not unknown for the light to come on or flicker at idle especially with hot oil.and extinguish as the revs increase above tick over.
I'd be inclined to swap the switch for a gauge as you say to establish the actual value. I would then replace the switch if necessary - they are cheap enough - and also the filter, which can be changed without changing the oil. Offgrid will lose the contents of his filter (about a pint) and will need to top up the engine by that amount. It is also important to use a filter with an NRV - preferably a Volvo one. Better still, why not fit a tee-piece and have a gauge in the car as well as the warning light? Regards, John.
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Jan 19th, 2024, 15:37 | #4 |
Offgrid camper
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I've been looking at oil gauges, and I don't like the mechanical ones. The digital ones seem to be more suitable for me. Swopping the warning sensor, and fitting a gauge temporarily under the bonnet may be a good call. Then when I have resolved the problem, I can install the gauge in the saloon. That's the car I want to trick out and experiment with ( B230E engine). The estate is going to become my daily driver, and will probably be driven in the manner of a pensioner in a classic Volvo.
The flickering warning comment is a good call. I have variable readings on the fuel gauge, so I may have some earthing problems. Given the car has been left unused for a few longish periods, that seems likely.
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Cinderella ( Cinders ) - 1988 Volvo 740 saloon with B230E engine The Hoe - 1990 Volvo 740 estate with B200E engine The House - 2005 LDV Convoy hightop with Ford Transit turbo engine. Save Old Cars |
Jan 19th, 2024, 15:50 | #5 | |
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I guess if you test the oil pressure in a few different situations and you see it's good, or it gets normal after changing the filter, there is no need for constant monitoring of oil pressure. you can get one of those testers for as low as 20 quid, maybe even less, if on sale. EDIT: Btw, in fact there are some that have a long enough hose that you could pass it through the firewall into the engine bay and monitor values from the inside, like a normal gauge. Those are the best. You can drive around a little bit and then remove it when you are done testing.
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Proud owner of a 1997 940 2.3 lpt Manual with 501,000km. Last edited by SalvadorP; Jan 19th, 2024 at 15:56. |
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Jan 19th, 2024, 17:36 | #6 |
Offgrid camper
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I'm starting to wonder about the oil that is in there. It looks like sunflower oil, and I would have expected it to darken by now. I must have run the engine fir at least 5 hours, and that should have created some discolouration. I bet the guy pinched some of his wife's cooking oil.
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Cinderella ( Cinders ) - 1988 Volvo 740 saloon with B230E engine The Hoe - 1990 Volvo 740 estate with B200E engine The House - 2005 LDV Convoy hightop with Ford Transit turbo engine. Save Old Cars |
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