Scary 300 tdi oil loss warning!

Last week I drove from my home in Dalbeattie (SW Scotland) down to
Stoke-on-Trent, a trip of around 200 miles. Did the usual (minimal) checks
before setting off, all ok. As I pulled off the M6 at J16 the oil pressure
light flickered. Odd, I thought. Driving round the 'D' road in quite heavy
morning rush hour traffic the flicker became more frequent so I headed in to
Asda at Wolstanton to have a look, knowing they would have some oil if
needed. As I stopped in the car park the light turned red.

Lifted the bonnet, saw the oil filter covered with black stuff and assumed
it had come loose. It hadn't, but the cooler hose union was only just
hanging in there, not even finger tight.

Off I went into Asda and returned with a couple of gallons of oil (won't
need that much, but it's cheap etc.) and an adjustable spanner (no kit in
the disco). Tightened the union and topped up, and topped up and topped up
some more...

.... ended up putting more than 6 litres in.

Following the unscheduled oil change, the pressure light went out in the
usual fashion (once the filter had re-filled) and I returned home the same
day with no apparent ill effect - apart from a slightly queasy, nervous
feeling in the pit of my wallet. I've put about 500 miles on since, and the
pressure light is still behaving normally.

I think I was lucky and caught it in time, this time, but dread to think
what would have happened had the light started to come on a bit further up
the M6 and I had carried on until off the motorway - I now know that the oil
pressure light means "Pull over and stop immediately"!

Cheers,
Chas

ps: check your oil cooler pipe unions.

>
>I think I was lucky and caught it in time, this time, but dread to think
>what would have happened had the light started to come on a bit further up
>the M6 and I had carried on until off the motorway - I now know that the oil
>pressure light means "Pull over and stop immediately"!
>

The 101 Military landrovers have the fuel pump connected via the oil
pressure switch - so loss of oil pressure means you come to a stop
anyway. I often wonder why all cars don't do this.

Alex

"Alex" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>>
>>I think I was lucky and caught it in time, this time, but dread to think
>>what would have happened had the light started to come on a bit further up
>>the M6 and I had carried on until off the motorway - I now know that the
>>oil
>>pressure light means "Pull over and stop immediately"!
>>
>
> The 101 Military landrovers have the fuel pump connected via the oil
> pressure switch - so loss of oil pressure means you come to a stop
> anyway. I often wonder why all cars don't do this.
>
> Alex

Because it's a PITA when the wire drops off the oil pressure switch and
leaves you stranded in a dangerous position across a junction in a truck
that aint all that pushable.... trust me :-(

Switch now bypassed. I think it was a saftey precaution to stop squaddies
blowing engines... but I know I'd rather risk the engine in a front line
retreat than ask the passers by if they happend to have a spare litre of
oil.

Lee D

Alex wrote:

> The 101 Military landrovers have the fuel pump connected via the oil
> pressure switch - so loss of oil pressure means you come to a stop
> anyway. I often wonder why all cars don't do this.

Early landcruisers are set up the same; they cut the fuel solenoid on
the injector pump after 15 seconds or so without oil pressure - it's a
pain in the arse after an oil change when they cut out before they have
pressure.

I've got a bloody loud piezo siren set up in my LR to warn of low oil
pressure & excessive temperature. I built it with a 10 second delay to
allow for startup, and a cancel switch - it works well so far and
doesn't cut the engine to avoid stopping unexpectedly in dangerous
situations.


--
EMB

My oil pressure switch went AWOL some time ago, I just use my ears (when it
starts rattling more than usual) and the dip stick to tell me when it needs
more oil, the light used to come on too regularly anyway, it's one of these
things I'll get round to sorting eventually.


--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes


"EMB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Alex wrote:
>
> Early landcruisers are set up the same; they cut the fuel solenoid on
> the injector pump after 15 seconds or so without oil pressure - it's a
> pain in the arse after an oil change when they cut out before they have
> pressure.
>
> I've got a bloody loud piezo siren set up in my LR to warn of low oil
> pressure & excessive temperature. I built it with a 10 second delay to
> allow for startup, and a cancel switch - it works well so far and
> doesn't cut the engine to avoid stopping unexpectedly in dangerous
> situations.
>
>
> --
> EMB

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 23:01:36 +0100, "Larry" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>My oil pressure switch went AWOL some time ago, I just use my ears (when it
>starts rattling more than usual) and the dip stick to tell me when it needs
>more oil, the light used to come on too regularly anyway, it's one of these
>things I'll get round to sorting eventually.

I used to rely on the oil pressure light coming on round left hand
corners in my old Nova as an indicator that I should top the oil level
up.

Saved checking it every month

Alex