Oil Oil Warning Light

[angie4m]

Hey guys, I'm just wondering at what point does the Oil Warning light come on. Only reason I ask is my mate has been going on about the very low MPG he is getting in his CTR and my trip the other week didn't help.

He has been saying about taking off the Milltek but I just keep telling him its his driving but yesterday after he had a wee search on here, he text to say he think he knows why the low MPG........his oil is rather low!

I am slightly concerned for him as it was way below the low marker on the dip sitck, like almost off it! He's done over 6k in it and he's not had an Oil Warning light appear. I'm thinking he has a faulty oil sensor!

I've pointed out that it not coming on and being that low could damage the engine but he is convinced that its fine. I just don't want him to rely on the sensor waning him when it seems it may not be working.

I don't know when it comes on, it doesn't really advise in the handbook and I, unlike him check my oil about once a week.

Anyone have an ideas?

[cb550]

Originally Posted by angie4m

Hey guys, I'm just wondering at what point does the Oil Warning light come on. Only reason I ask is my mate has been going on about the very low MPG he is getting in his CTR and my trip the other week didn't help.

He has been saying about taking off the Milltek but I just keep telling him its his driving but yesterday after he had a wee search on here, he text to say he think he knows why the low MPG........his oil is rather low!

I am slightly concerned for him as it was way below the low marker on the dip sitck, like almost off it! He's done over 6k in it and he's not had an Oil Warning light appear. I'm thinking he has a faulty oil sensor!

I've pointed out that it not coming on and being that low could damage the engine but he is convinced that its fine. I just don't want him to rely on the sensor waning him when it seems it may not be working.

I don't know when it comes on, it doesn't really advise in the handbook and I, unlike him check my oil about once a week.

Anyone have an ideas?

Well,certainly below the min point then

Assuming quite reasonably,the min mark on the dipstick is the lowest permissable point,after which oil must be added,what on earth kind of mentality fits a low oil level indicator at a point below that level?(The last time I topped mine up at min at the dipstick not a single warning flagged)

My 147 had a graduated level indicator and worked a treat

[milano sport]

my oil light came on last week, was about 80% full, topped it up, but had to go to the dealers to get the light switched off.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by milano sport

my oil light came on last week, was about 80% full, topped it up, but had to go to the dealers to get the light switched off.

THAT does sound like a faulty sensor..

[lippy]

My warning light came on when my previous civic had done around 5500 miles - was a shock! We stopped and checked the oil and it was just below the minimum mark. Left it to settle and checked again - was slightly higher and the oil light did not light up so driving slowly and carefully we bought some oil at the nearest garage, topped it up and was fine. Mentioned to dealer and they said it was fine and they also said is not unusual for a civic to use oil when 'new'.

If your mates is below/at min level wont be long before he does serious damage as warning light SHOULD come on a min mark. If I were you I'd keep telling him the cost of a new engine, which unless the sensor is faulty, wont be covered by warranty - prob wouldn't be anyway as it would be the user at fault for not checking/topping up. Mr Lippy says that the oil warning light is last resort and people should, as you do, keep checking.

[Pottsy]

The oil level light does seem to be a bit random - it's only there as a bonus. The dipstick is what you should use.

Low oil level will not result in poor MPG though. So long as the input to the oil pump receives oil at all times, then the engine is lubricated. If for any reason, for any period of time, oil is not pumped into the engine, then damage could be done. The litre of oil between max and min is to allow the engine to use oil without you filling it up daily. Hopefully, when at min, you should still be able to tear the car around corners and there will be enough oil in the system so that the engine still gets oil at all times. Below min and you are taking a risk of momentary pressure loss and subsequent damage.

If ever the oil pressure light comes on, then this means there is no oil at the input, and you are currently damaging your engine.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by lippy

My warning light came on when my previous civic had done around 5500 miles - was a shock! We stopped and checked the oil and it was just below the minimum mark. Left it to settle and checked again - was slightly higher and the oil light did not light up so driving slowly and carefully we bought some oil at the nearest garage, topped it up and was fine. Mentioned to dealer and they said it was fine and they also said is not unusual for a civic to use oil when 'new'.

If your mates is below/at min level wont be long before he does serious damage as warning light SHOULD come on a min mark. If I were you I'd keep telling him the cost of a new engine, which unless the sensor is faulty, wont be covered by warranty - prob wouldn't be anyway as it would be the user at fault for not checking/topping up. Mr Lippy says that the oil warning light is last resort and people should, as you do, keep checking.

Agree that Honda would not cover a new engine under warranty in this instance as the handbook states that you should check your oil levels on a regular basis and checking them for the first time since November and after 6000 miles is not regular. Failing to do as advised would be seen as neglect and would see the warranty on the engine void at that point.

Originally Posted by Pottsy

The oil level light does seem to be a bit random - it's only there as a bonus. The dipstick is what you should use.

Low oil level will not result in poor MPG though. So long as the input to the oil pump receives oil at all times, then the engine is lubricated. If for any reason, for any period of time, oil is not pumped into the engine, then damage could be done. The litre of oil between max and min is to allow the engine to use oil without you filling it up daily. Hopefully, when at min, you should still be able to tear the car around corners and there will be enough oil in the system so that the engine still gets oil at all times. Below min and you are taking a risk of momentary pressure loss and subsequent damage.

If ever the oil pressure light comes on, then this means there is no oil at the input, and you are currently damaging your engine.

When he said he had found the problem with his low MPG, I thought he was going to say his heavy right foot, not the oil!

You are all correct, the oil warning light is a last resort and means that the engine is being damaged. I'll just have to pester him a bit more in order for him to check his engine oil on a regular basis.

I do not intend to see my oil light at any point......and the cost of a new engine does not bare thinking about!

[civic mcqueen]

Originally Posted by angie4m

Hey guys, I'm just wondering at what point does the Oil Warning light come on. Only reason I ask is my mate has been going on about the very low MPG he is getting in his CTR and my trip the other week didn't help.

He has been saying about taking off the Milltek but I just keep telling him its his driving but yesterday after he had a wee search on here, he text to say he think he knows why the low MPG........his oil is rather low!

I am slightly concerned for him as it was way below the low marker on the dip sitck, like almost off it! He's done over 6k in it and he's not had an Oil Warning light appear. I'm thinking he has a faulty oil sensor!

I've pointed out that it not coming on and being that low could damage the engine but he is convinced that its fine. I just don't want him to rely on the sensor waning him when it seems it may not be working.

I don't know when it comes on, it doesn't really advise in the handbook and I, unlike him check my oil about once a week.

Anyone have an ideas?

If the oil level sensor is failing, it should appear a warning symbol like this



Ups! Too big. It´s in spanish, I´m sorry. I´ll try to translate...

If there is any problem with the oil level system, this symbol will appear, or this symbol with the message "check system" in the information screen. If you ignore this symbol/message and keep driving, the system will be seriously damaged. For furthe information, check page 476.
No more useful information in that page.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by civic mcqueen

If the oil level sensor is failing, it should appear a warning symbol like this



Ups! Too big. It´s in spanish, I´m sorry. I´ll try to translate...

If there is any problem with the oil level system, this symbol will appear, or this symbol with the message "check system" in the information screen. If you ignore this symbol/message and keep driving, the system will be seriously damaged. For furthe information, check page 476.
No more useful information in that page.

But if the sensor is faulty then that warning will not appear! His car didn't know that it was way below the minimum line hence why I think he has a faulty sensor. ie its not picking up there this is hardly any oil left. Thank you for posting anyway

[civic mcqueen]

Sorry, I think it´s my fault for my english. This symbol will appear when the level sensor fails. It warns you that the sensor of the oil level isn´t working properly, so if your friend doesn´t see this symbol on the screen, it does mean that the sensor is working fine...

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by civic mcqueen

Sorry, I think it´s my fault for my english. This symbol will appear when the level sensor fails. It warns you that the sensor of the oil level isn´t working properly, so if your friend doesn´t see this symbol on the screen, it does mean that the sensor is working fine...

Your right but the system has to recognise there is a fault in the first place. Forgive me for thinking his car may still have a genuine problem, but after having an problem occur whilst stationary and engine off only to have a reading on diagnostics says I was doing 93mph and 9600rpm at the time the fault then being told it was bad data doesn't fill me with confidence.

I will just have to get him to check more often

[Woette]

i am gonna check my oil when going home from work. At home the car is always parked on a slope and so maybe the oil read out on the dipstick isn't a 100% correct.
I WILL piss my pants if its suddenly below the minimum mark. Its still quite unclear to me why the oil light does not pop on earlier, after reading all the posts which mention engine damage already occuring when the light has just come on

[milano sport]

Originally Posted by FWH

THAT does sound like a faulty sensor..

The sensor is faulty, having it replaced later this week, the garage want the car for 2 days, seems over the top to me. is it just a warranty scam do you think?

[cnicolini]

I think that the manual states that if the oil level warning light comes on then you have to top it up straight away. Whats the big deal, just check it weekly! Honda cover themselves by saying that you should check the oil at every fuel stop! Check the manual. Why take risks and wait for the oil light???

[MartinR]

The sensor is for the oil pressure when the engine is running, it's not a low level warning light.
If the light comes on there is insuffcient oil pressure and could result in engine damage.

[emmaloula]

My light came on about a month ago but thankfully was right by Halfords so was able to pull in and top up. The oil was just over the first dot on the stick (from the bottom).

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by MartinR

The sensor is for the oil pressure when the engine is running, it's not a low level warning light.
If the light comes on there is insuffcient oil pressure and could result in engine damage.

Martin,

There are 2 sensors. One is the oil level sensor and one is the oil pressure sensor.

If your engine starts to lose oil, the level sensor light will come on while you are driving (on my car it came on when the oil level was below the bottom line).

Obviously if you then continue to lose oil up to the point when the feed to the pump starts to get air, then you will lose pressure, light the low oil pressure light and damage the engine.

After an incorrectly fitted oil filter, I experienced the low oil level light after about 100 miles: Car dumped all of its oil

[kooldog]

Is the oil level sensor warning light a feature on both the petrol and the diesel models or just the diesel cause it burns more?

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by kooldog

Is the oil level sensor warning light a feature on both the petrol and the diesel models or just the diesel cause it burns more?

It's fitted on all engines. The diesel shouldn't burn more (although 81% of 1.8 owners answered "hardly any" to the question "how much oil does it use" compared to 74% of diesel owners). Mine (2.2) needs no top ups between 12,500 miles services.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by cnicolini

I think that the manual states that if the oil level warning light comes on then you have to top it up straight away. Whats the big deal, just check it weekly! Honda cover themselves by saying that you should check the oil at every fuel stop! Check the manual. Why take risks and wait for the oil light???

Excatly, no point in taking the risk. Not hassled Si recently about checking his oil since this and I bet he doens't check it for ages, so i'll do it when i'm back down at the end of the month me thinks.