Oil pressure worry

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:42 am

Last night at Knockhill my oil pressure warning light was momentarily flickering on coming through the chicane, just as the car was getting the jolt from the right hand kerb. This is a bit of a worry with all the recent stories of Yota engines going pop. Double checked the oil and it was topped up to the correct max level on the dip stick. I guess it could just be a faulty connection or dodgy sender, but equally it could be the oil sloshing around in the sump and the pick up sucking air which could be really bad news. From what I have read the standard Yota sump is acutally bettwr baffled than most road cars. I have experienced this a couple of times before at the KH chicane (never anywhere else, road or track), but last night it started happening almost every lap until I started taking it a lot easier through that section of the track. So has anyone else experieced this or have any suggestions? If it is a genuine momentary loss of oil pressure and not a dodgy warning light I don't think even an Accusump would be quick enough to react - they are more for sustained, high G corners - but a better baffled sump would presumably sort it (at large expense!)

Mark

Brian J · Post by **Brian J** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:53 am

Mark, Sorry for daft question - but definitely oil light and not brake light? -which is a common complaint when pads go down - just needs fluid top-up.

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:04 am

Brian J wrote:Mark, Sorry for daft question - but definitely oil light and not brake light? -which is a common complaint when pads go down - just needs fluid top-up.

Brian, not a daft question at all - now that I think about it I am not sure. Kind of hard to look down at the dash when you are battering through the chicane . I just caught this red light flickering and assumed it must be the oil light, but if it was the brake warning light that would be a bit of a relief. Guess I need to check the brake fluid first, and if that is ok, get a pax to keep an eye on the dash through the chicane.

Mark

mac · Post by **mac** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:09 am

Isn't the oil light orange?

Mac

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:12 am

I wonder if Lotus log the oil light in the ecu, if not it would be a very simple process for them to do so and it would quickly indicate any potential problem.

I'd ask for reasurrance from Lotus that they do.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:15 am

i noticed in both the exige's i drove that the brake light came on, i presumed it was the handbrake switch but could easily have been the low brake fluid level aswell. probably nothing to worry about Mark

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:18 am

mac wrote:Isn't the oil light orange?

Mac

Dunno, and now I am feeling a bit of a pillock for not checking

Too much adrenalin flowing last night for straight thinking

Got my boring car at work today - will check the Exige tonight.

Mark

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:43 am

Hi Mark

My brake light comes on int he 111r on right handers.

Take it for a spin and turn in really hard. Ali C has the same on his Exige

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:39 am

I think I posted a similar question when I first got my car.

Mine does the exact same as the above have said, and have checked the fluid levels are always full.

Got used to it now, I have a warning light to tell me to change gear and another light to tell me my corner speed is ok, ie.
Stays on in corner, no flickering - good corner speed.
Flickers on and off - must try harder.
Doesnt come on - Driving like an interior designer.

jj · Post by jj » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:55 am

Doesnt come on - Driving like an interior designer.

I was going to say my car does the same (flickering brake light) but now nobody will believe me......

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:03 pm

Ok, does sound like it is most likely just the brake light - phew! Thanks guys

Mark

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:27 pm

I had the brake light flashing on the road , it only took a few cc's extra fluid to stop it doing it . Very distracting going into a bend.

robin · Post by **robin** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:57 am

ryallm wrote:Ok, does sound like it is most likely just the brake light - phew! Thanks guys

Mark

I think it would make sense for us to figure out whether or not the oil pressure warning is logged as per Lawrence's suggestion.

Here's why - if (dare I say when?) our engines go pop due to low oil pressure caused by starvation you would want to know that the ECU did or did not log the oil pressure event. If it does and it shows 100 previous events, you may struggle to get a new engine ("why did you keep driving it, sir?"). Also if it does then getting Lotus to tell you if there have been any events to date would also be helpful in any subsequent claim (if there are some events already, they can start dealing with the problem now!). If it doesn't then they cannot later claim you drove it on low oil pressure. Time to go defensive I think ...

I think I will ask for a complete dump of all available ECU data next time the car is in - oh wait, it's there already (surprise)!

Cheers,
Robin