Oil light on!! Is it too late??

[Martyn-172]

Got the dreaded oil sign on my 172 2day and thought oh f**k, have i left it 2 late 2 change it and get away with it or have i already ruined the pistons, rings or head :/ theres no noise from engine bay but im not driving it an inch until its been flushed wiv either motul or castrol!! Any ideas on oil aswell as itll b the first time ive changed oil on it?? Its a 02 172 wiv 93000 on the clock, thanks 4 any advise lads nd lasses

 

[leeds_182]

Just top it up and carry on!

 

[yourcodenameisnick]

Where does the oil go up to on the dipstick?

 

[JackJack]

Why have you not changed it before? Check the level and iirc it's an oil pressure warning light i may be wrong though.

 

[Pep]

The light is there to tell you before it is too late, as above top it up for now and then do a change when convenient.

 

[Sam@NP]

You can check your oil everytime you start the car by pressing the button in the clocks. Oil light comes on when you have lots over a liter of oil, so bad news and DO NOT rely on it!

 

[Gregor11]

Has it got oil in or is it a faulty switch etc? I used valveoline 5w 30 fully synthetic oil and it's really good! Check the oil level, if needs be top it up, if the level is good it may be something simple or perhaps not!!

 

[Martyn-172]

I checked it on monday and it was half way up the dipstick!! I was goin 2 change it at the weekend but im goin 2 do it after work 2mora now, i was goin 2 flush it with 10w40w as it has no start up problems but if u guys have any advise i wuold appreciate it

 

[warwickstingray]

Probably a repeat of what someone has already said as my computer doesn't seem to display all the posts.

If it's the level check warning then top it up (usually a litre or so) and check your oil more regularly. The oil pressure light which you do want to worry about if it's on with the car running is the little oil can that glows red when you turn the ignition on and then goes out when you start the car if all is ok.

My works van does multi-drop and it's runs on cheap oil and the oil level warning comes on every now and then. It's never missed a beat. I don't recommend letting it happen deliberately but as a one off it's highly unlikely you've done any damage.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Oil light means no/low oil pressure IIRC. It doesn't necessarily mean there's none in the sump....

 

[Martyn-172]

Cheers guys, im goin 2 b the first customer at my local garage 2 get enough 2 flush it, the light only came on 2night as i was pullin onto the drive so i dnt think its a disaster jst yet :/ ( famous last words lol) fingers crossed iv not caused alot ov damage!! Thanks again

 

[warwickstingray]

Oil light means no/low oil pressure IIRC. It doesn't necessarily mean there's none in the sump....

Yep your right there. I've had the oil can light come on for 4 reasons.

1) faulty switch or wire
2) oil low enough that pick up pipe is not picking enough up
3) round a long corner at a track ( not good ) causing number 2 (not in clio)
4) oil pump has commited suicide

I think that his sounds like the oil level warning. You just need to buy a litre to top the car up with.

Just double check the dipstick first it's not uncommon for these things to give false readings. what do you mean by flush it?