Hello all,

I'm getting an intermitant oil pressure warning light when I'm at idle, and then it goes off once I start moving... is this the pump going bad or a sensor problem?

Thanks,

2003 Discovery 2, V8

 

low-rpm = low pressure
for some reason it's dipping below the threshold of the warning circuit
drop your pan and inspect the pickup tube

 

Stop driving it ASAP. How mechanical are you and is your truck on Rovers hit list for a possible failing oil pump/engine?

 

You probably have a cracked oil pump, its quite common on all years of d2. The first thing you need is to hook up a gauge and get a reading of your oil pressure. If it is below specs then you will need to change the oil pump gears, which is really not that hard of a job if you can follow directions.

 

But don't drive it until you verify oil PSI with mechanical gauge. There is a sticky on oil in the tech area, basically a MANN or Purolator filter, plus 15W40 Rotella. If dropping below 7 at idle, you can imagine you might be running 12 PSI when at 2500 rpm, when you should be at 50.

 

As previously stated you need to hook up an external oil pressure gauge to either the Oil Pressure sensor port on the front cover (must pull sensor of course) or the plug just above would work. You can then verify what you really have in terms of oil pressure. Below 7-8 would get you the dash light.

You could have a clogged oil pick up but I wouls say its not very likely if you've been changing your oil on a regular schedule.

I can tell you I just had an cracked oil pump outer ring clear through in three spots and replacement did not change my oil pressure from the Hot Idle of 11PSI. I also changed the Filter to the Large Mann filter referrenced in the post with no change. In the end, oil pressure is a product of restriction created from the clearance of the bearing to journal surfaces and rocker shaft to arm. If these clearance are worn then you will never have stellar pressure regardless of how efficient you pump is working or what size/design oil filter you install.

 

You do need to follow the advice of the members and not drive until you perform the proper tests mentioned above so that you do not cause more damage.

 

Hello!

I've had a periodic oil light this summer and after checking my notes, apparently I had the same thing last summer.

After seeing this forum a while ago I took the truck right in for a test, the results:

---Cold at idle - 43
---Cold at 2000 RPM - 46
---Warm at idle - 38
---Warm at 2000 RPM - 43

After the test they swapped the sensor from my parts truck and the light did go away for a while...but its periodically back now.

It's only ever come on at start and at the longest has been on for maybe a couple of minutes, though usually just momentarily.

As a (side) note, I've also had a very slow rear main seal leak - I added the Blue Devil additive recommended by Disco Mike and it did seem to eventually stop the oil loss but it seems to be slowly losing oil again - I'm going to get another look at the engine to confirm it's the same leak before I call Blue Devil though.

In case it has any importance, I've included a dated timeline of oil related issues below.

-2013-07-02 first start - light on - immediately restarted - no light
-2013-07-07 truck sitting a couple hours - light on momentarily
-2013-07-21 first start - light on - off at next start
-2013-07-29 truck sitting a couple hours - light on for a minute
-2013-07-30 truck sitting a couple hours - light on momentarily
-2013-12-13 oil low
-2014-02-25 level fine
-2014-02-27 level fine
-2014-02-27 truck sitting many hours - 90% of fill to full
-2014-03-06 truck sitting many hours - 85% of fill to full
-2014-03-15 60% of fill to full
-2014-03-18 truck sitting many hours - 40% of fill to full
-2014-03-24 40% of fill to full
-2014-04-02 30% of fill to full
-2014-04-05 20% of fill to full
-2014-06-29 80% of fill to full
-2014-07-02 60% of fill to full
-2014-07-06 60% of fill to full
-2014-07-20 level fine
-2014-07-23 level fine
-2014-07-27 first start - light on momentarily
-2014-07-27 level fine
-2014-08-02 first start - light on momentarily
-2014-08-05 start - light on momentarily
-2014-08-06 first start - light on for a couple minutes
-2014-08-09 start - light on momentarily
-2014-08-10 start - light on momentarily
-2014-08-11 level fine
-2014-08-29 first start - light on momentarily
-2014-09-02 first start - light on momentarily
-2014-08-28 70% of fill to full
-2014-09-04 start - light on momentarily
-2014-09-05 60% of fill to full
-2014-09-06 start - light on for a minute

Suggestions?

Thanks!!

TDC