Oil Pressure Warning Light After Oil Change

[zedveron]

I just changed the oil and oil filter in my '97 318i. It's the first time I have ever done it, I'm pretty new to the DIY mechanics stuff. I just followed the instructions in the service manual.

Anyway, after I replaced the oil I started the car and the oil pressure warning light came on and stayed on for the minute or so that i let the car run.

I put 5 litres in the car (as per the service manual instructions), but i noticed that only about 3.5-4 litres came out when i drained the old oil.

The dipstick shows the oil as pretty high, although there is no "max" mark on it, so I can't tell if it is too much. It is right at the top of the plastic tip, near where the tip meets the metal dipstick proper.

Is it possible for the light to come on when there is too much oil in the engine, or will it be because I haven't tightened something properly (I used a torque wrench)? If it's too high, how do I go about letting some oil out, do I just drain it from the plug? Please help!

[Twright]

No, the light will not go on if there is too much oil in it. What has probably happened is that the oil is not completely circulated inside the engine yet.

This is normal after an oil change.

Go check the ENGINE oil level one more time. If its still "full" or above, start the engine and let it run for 60 seconds. The light should go off in this length of time.

If it doesn't go off in 60 seconds, shut off the car. At this point you probably have some other, unknown problem.

But I'm betting the light will go off in 60 seconds.

[Hellrot318is]

Twright, you are incorrect about too much oil not tripping the light.

Too much oil IS BAD! If the light does not go off in the first 5-10 seconds after starting the car, TURN OFF THE MOTOR!!!! Otherwise you may need a new motor. With too much oil, the crankshaft tends to whip the oil that's in the pan into a foam, sending foamy air oil through the system, causing low pressure and inadequate lubrication for engine parts.

Drain out ALL oil, and add the correct amount. Take off the drain plug and let all the oil seep out (should only take a few moments, but since you are a rookie, just let it drain until it's done dripping) Add the correct amount of oil (new oil) and check your dipstick. If you have the M44 4 cylinder motor, I think it takes 5.2 US quarts.

The dipstick does not say MIN/MAX, but on the bottom of the dipstick there are two marks, lower and upper. Don't go pass the upper.

Also did you change the oil filter as well? It doesn't apply necessarily to your BMW but I like to fill up oil filters with oil. In my 4 banger BMW I put some in the oil filter housing and around the filter.

[Critter7r]

+1

Too much oil can cause the oil pressure light to come on because the oily foamy air that's getting sent through isn't getting sent through at a high enough pressure to keep the light from coming on.

And as far as I know, the 318s do take 5 quarts. But if the oil level is at the meeting point of the plastic and the metal on the dipstick, you're probably 2 quarts too much at least.

[02325]

you can not fill up bmw oil filters, due to they are the insert kind and if you pour oil into your housing it will just run right into the pan.

Are you sure the oil filter cap is not leaking and you tightened it up. if you left that cap loose and you cranked the eng you will not build pressure due to the leak. Done it many of times. it also makes a big a$$ mess

[MJFX328]

Guys he said 5 LITRES. Im not so good at conversion, but it needs 5 Qts not Ltrs

[e36 318i VERT]

Thats true^^,
OP how much oil did you put in??

[Critter7r]

Well, a liter is like 1.057 quart. A quart is 0.956 liter. About a 5% difference. They're close enough to be interchangeable for oil capacities.

So he put 5.29 quarts in. Hardly enough to cause the level to get up to the top of the dipstick.

[MJFX328]

Check your oil filter. Make sure its sealed properly

[cw328is207]

this may sound dumb but i have seen it done if your car is an auto you didnt drain the tranny and put double oil in the car? this would cause a seriously bad situation i.e. as stated above whipped cream type oil

[Twright]

I want to know if anyone responding here has seen an oil pressure light go on because there was 1.5 liters of too much oil in the engine.

I'm betting no one has seen this and you guys are just guessing. (And I believe you're guessing incorrectly.)

[kinghawk]

Ive seen it done if that matters.

[bmwdirtracer]

Yes, actually, I have seen this. In principle, Critter is absolutely correct. For the current situation, though, I would be fairly sure you're right, and this is not the issue. My reason for my statement is that it takes a few minutes to whip the oil into a froth which aerates the pump, meanwhile the oil pump should have long ago brought the oil pressure up to snuff. Best I could figure, the guy added half a quart too much by conversion, half a quart extra that was in the filter he forgot to drain, being a newbie, before emptying the sump, adds up to a quart or less, which I agree completely is important to drain, but if the oil pressure doesn't pump up in 10 seconds, I don't like to run the car. The exception to this is with old M30 motors, which sometimes require a short rev to turn off the oil light when stone cold. (Which of course indicates excessive tolerances which should be corrected). (Okay, one more exception for pedantics: new motors and rebuilds often take nearly sixty seconds to run up oil pressure, which is why you leave the fuel and spark off, and grease stuff really well!) HOWEVER, if, as Critter points out, the oil is WAY above normal, God only knows how fast one could turn oil into froth, so I agree with everyone here: dump the oil, after dumping the filter housing, and add the correct amount!

[Critter7r]

(In all fairness.. Knurmi said it first. i +1'd him)

I want to know if anyone responding here has seen an oil pressure light go on because there was 1.5 liters of too much oil in the engine.

I'm guessing no one has seen this and you guys are just guessing. (And I guess you're guessing incorrectly.)

fixed! (I guess)

[Billy Pro]

There could still be low oil pressure after oil change. If this happens, you should pull the car off and turn off the engine as quickly as possible. Let’s find out the reasons that cause the problem:

Incorrect Oil Level

If the light comes on after an oil change, the wrong level of oil might be the culprit. Just like the low oil level, an oil level too high could be the reason for an out-of-range oil pressure. If you are positive that you have used the fuel with the correct viscosity rating, check the level. If it’s above the fuel line, send it below the line.
Not Lubricating the Oil FilterIt’s the standard procedure to put some oil in the filter before its installation. The oil pressure can go down if you don’t lubricate the oil filter. Don’t do the mistake of revving the engine during this time to pressurize the system. What you should do is to run the starter after removing the spark plugs. When the system gains pressure, reinstall the plugs and kick off the engine.

Not Lubricating the Oil Filter

It’s the standard procedure to put some oil in the filter before its installation. The oil pressure can go down if you don’t lubricate the oil filter. Don’t do the mistake of revving the engine during this time to pressurize the system. What you should do is to run the starter after removing the spark plugs. When the system gains pressure, reinstall the plugs and kick off the engine.

Dirty Oil

Not changing the oil at the due time and poor maintenance may lead to sludge buildup in the engine. It will not wash out even if you just change the fuel. The deposit deprives the sensitive engine parts of normal oil pressure. As a result, you see the oil pressure light on after oil change.

Damaged Pressure Sensor

If the light is still on after getting everything right, measure the pressure by using a test gauge. If it shows that pressure is fine, the problem could be with the sensor and circuit that operates the light. The sensor is attached to the engine and it has a probe that goes into an oil passage. Sometimes, dirt or any other particle gets into the probe and triggers the sensor to switch the light on. The sensor is easy to replace and does not cost much.The oil pressure light on after oil change is a serious problem. It means that there is no oil flowing inside the engine parts. If you keep running the car in this condition, the whole engine could be damaged. So, when the light is on, tow it to a mechanic to find out the problem and fix it.

Reference: https://carfromjapan.com/article/car...ht-oil-change/

[bmwdirtracer]

Billy, welcome to the forum. Your first post, I see.

You just linked a generic post....labelled "carfromjapan"....on a BMW specialist mechanical forum. And you know....I'm a pro. I'm a BMW specialist pro, in fact.

Now, I may well be the worst BMW specialist pro to ever exist... but damn, man, even I know to just leave the nine year old thread alone. Let sleeping dogs lie.

We will all be grateful to have another pro's help, at this forum. (I bet I've made more mistakes than you!)

Please give everyone some input on the current threads -- there are some wonderful people waiting for some input on their current issues, and they will greatly appreciate a pro's help. I'm a dumbass that just pisses them off////