Oil light stays on after car turned off

[1carts]

Once in a while (estimate at about 15-20% of the time) my yellow oil light will light and stay on after I turn off the car. When I restart it, then turn it off, it usually goes off. This problem is intermittent with no apparent pattern, although I have not looked that hard for a pattern. Is this a malfunctioning sensor or does something require attention?

It's an '04 330 Ci, manual.

[jetflyer]

[quote=1carts;12656401]Once in a while (estimate at about 15-20% of the time) my yellow oil light will light and stay on after I turn off the car. When I restart it, then turn it off, it usually goes off. This problem is intermittent with no apparent pattern, although I have not looked that hard for a pattern. Is this a malfunctioning sensor or does something require attention?

It's an '04 330 Ci, manual.[/quotet
If oil level in yours car engine is above "minimum" mark on the dipstick,that`s definitelly malfunctioning oil level sensor .

[zeekman914]

Check the oil with the dipstick. Let us know the level

[bemve]

More than likely it's the oil level sensor.

[GWEEDOspeedo]

To me, it just sounds like you're low on oil.

Check out this thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=186688

[Phoenixtsintsin]

Happens to me every now and then. I just turn the key back to the ON position, and turn it OFF again. Light is gone.

Not gonna worry about it.

[chsu74]

I would not ignore it. Check the oil level 15 min after you shut the engine off on level ground. Everytime, when my oil level sensor is working, the level was low. When the light turn red, you need to adda qt of oil.

[Phoenixtsintsin]

I would not ignore it. Check the oil level 15 min after you shut the engine off on level ground. Everytime, when my oil level sensor is working, the level was low. When the light turn red, you need to adda qt of oil.

My oil level is ok. I check constantly. I'm anal about it.

It could be that the oil level sensor is acting up, but nothing I can do until my next oil change ... due in about 5000 miles.

[Critter7r]

For the OP: the oil light coming on yellow means the sensor is telling you you're a quart low on oil. Check the oil with the dipstick and verify this. If it's low, add a quart, if it's not low, then the oil level sensor is malfunctioning.

To chsu74: If that oil light comes on in RED, that means there's no oil pressure, and you need to shut the engine down right away to avoid damaging the engine.

Let's review... 1 light, 2 colors, 2 different warnings. Yellow = 1 quart low on oil. Red = No oil pressure.

[Sean323iSE]

For the OP: the oil light coming on yellow means the sensor is telling you you're a quart low on oil. Check the oil with the dipstick and verify this. If it's low, add a quart, if it's not low, then the oil level sensor is malfunctioning.

To chsu74: If that oil light comes on in RED, that means there's no oil pressure, and you need to shut the engine down right away to avoid damaging the engine.

Let's review... 1 light, 2 colors, 2 different warnings. Yellow = 1 quart low on oil. Red = No oil pressure.

+1

[bscepter]

For the OP: the oil light coming on yellow means the sensor is telling you you're a quart low on oil. Check the oil with the dipstick and verify this. If it's low, add a quart, if it's not low, then the oil level sensor is malfunctioning.

To chsu74: If that oil light comes on in RED, that means there's no oil pressure, and you need to shut the engine down right away to avoid damaging the engine.

Let's review... 1 light, 2 colors, 2 different warnings. Yellow = 1 quart low on oil. Red = No oil pressure.

i believe if it comes on (yellow) after you shut the engine off, it means you're slightly low. if it comes on (yellow) while you're driving, you're at or below the absolute minimum. and red, well... we all know what that means.

here's a snapshot from the manual ('01):

[Sean323iSE]

i believe if it comes on (yellow) after you shut the engine off, it means you're slightly low. if it comes on (yellow) while you're driving, you're at or below the absolute minimum. and red, well... we all know what that means.

here's a snapshot from the manual ('01):

Cool, Didn't know that!

But in either case it COULD still be a faulty sensor

Sean

[pphil09]

I would not ignore it. Check the oil level 15 min after you shut the engine off on level ground. Everytime, when my oil level sensor is working, the level was low. When the light turn red, you need to adda qt of oil.

When the light turns red, you need a little more then 1 qt of oil to fix your problem