Oil light comes on when slowing from 60 mph

[GasX]

While doing some highway driving over the weekend in a fair bit of traffic, myy oil light came on a few times when I rapidly deccelerated. It went off after about 15 seconds. I figure that the braking resulted in a pressure drop that triggered the alarm. does this mean I might be a bit low or is it just par for the course?

2004 A6 if it matters...

 

[steppinthrax]

What is the oil level in the car? Is it full?

 

[Zenmervolt]

The A6 has both an oil pressure light and an oil level light.

I'm willing to bet that the light you saw was the oil level light and not the oil pressure light. Check your oil level.

Also, if it indeed was the oil pressure light, then you really need to stop the engine immediately rather than continuing to drive the car. The only way that braking could trigger a pressure drop is if the oil was so low that the oil pump pick-up was un-covered and the engine was temporarily not getting any oil. It's also worth noting that the oil pressure light is a no pressure light and not a low-pressure light. If the oil pressure warning light comes on, it means you have essentially zero oil pressure.

I still think it was the oil level warning light in your case though. Check the level and add some oil.

ZV

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The A6 has both an oil pressure light and an oil level light.

I'm willing to bet that the light you saw was the oil level light and not the oil pressure light. Check your oil level.

Also, if it indeed was the oil pressure light, then you really need to stop the engine immediately rather than continuing to drive the car. The only way that braking could trigger a pressure drop is if the oil was so low that the oil pump pick-up was un-covered and the engine was temporarily not getting any oil. It's also worth noting that the oil pressure light is a no pressure light and not a low-pressure light. If the oil pressure warning light comes on, it means you have essentially zero oil pressure.

I still think it was the oil level warning light in your case though. Check the level and add some oil.

ZV

:thumbsup:

More than I would have said.

But in either case, you need to check your oil immediately.

I wish more manufacturers would include oil level lights. That would be handy.

Something like a yellow light at 1/2 a quart low and a red light at 1 quart low would be awesome.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Eli
I wish more manufacturers would include oil level lights. That would be handy.

Something like a yellow light at 1/2 a quart low and a red light at 1 quart low would be awesome.

They do have those. They're called "dipsticks" and you check them at every other fill-up. Or maybe I'm just OCD.

ZV

 

[NuroMancer]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Eli
I wish more manufacturers would include oil level lights. That would be handy.

Something like a yellow light at 1/2 a quart low and a red light at 1 quart low would be awesome.</end quote></div>

They do have those. They're called "dipsticks" and you check them at every other fill-up. Or maybe I'm just OCD.

ZV

Thats what works for me

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Eli
I wish more manufacturers would include oil level lights. That would be handy.

Something like a yellow light at 1/2 a quart low and a red light at 1 quart low would be awesome.</end quote></div>

They do have those. They're called "dipsticks" and you check them at every other fill-up. Or maybe I'm just OCD.

ZV

lol no you're not,your not kidding ,the number of cars I've seen come into the workshop with the oil off the dipstick beggers belief ,not to mention tyres being 1/2 flat!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Assimilator1
not to mention tyres being 1/2 flat!

I've only ever had a tire go half flat. The top part never gets flat, only the bottom part. They should make it so the top part goes flat and the bottom stays round.

ZV

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Assimilator1
not to mention tyres being 1/2 flat!</end quote></div>

I've only ever had a tire go half flat. The top part never gets flat, only the bottom part. They should make it so the top part goes flat and the bottom stays round.

ZV

:laugh:

 

[exdeath]

Probably low oil and the weight transfer caused the oil to slosh away from the pickup and either trip the oil level sensor or starve the engine... this is why high performance cars use dry sump systems where the oil is scavenged into a reservoir instead of dumped to the oil pan for reuse, because it can't slosh around when braking and cornering.

Changing the oil *after* the oil pressure light comes on though, just a FYI, is a good way to destroy your engine and make your oil look like metallic nail polish.

 

[Assimilator1]

Changing the oil after the oil light comes on doesn't knacker the engine,its the oil starvation that damages the engine in the 1st place when the light came on.

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Assimilator1
not to mention tyres being 1/2 flat!</end quote></div>

I've only ever had a tire go half flat. The top part never gets flat, only the bottom part. They should make it so the top part goes flat and the bottom stays round.

ZV

lol