I was driving home tonight and my oil light came on? My car didn't seem to be running any differently and since I was almost home, I drove it home, parked it in the garage and my garage smells strongly of burnt oil and theres some slight smoke. I checked the oil (as I normally do) and theres oil in the dipstick?! What could this be? Does the oil light come on only for low oil levels? Please advise!

 

FYI, the car is an 850 GLT, Non turbo 5 cylinder.

 

oil pump may have died.

 

Oil light on indicates low oil pressure; no sensor for oil level (except dipstick).

What it could be? What ibified said, and/or the oil pump o-rings in the sump/pan.

BTW: oil light comes on at pretty low pressure; driving it like that could have done engine damage. Continuing to do so will guarantee it...

 

I wont continue to drive it, the light was intermittent.. It would flicker on then go off, be on for a few seconds and go off, and so on..

 

This morning I checked the oil (affter the car had been sitting) and noticed it was slightly above the "add" line so a little low.. So I added a quart of oil (to drive it to work where I have access to a lift) No problems with the car on the way to work (about a 15 minute drive) No oil light. Once on the lift, I checked over the car, nothing noticible that I saw wrong under there. Drained the oil, changed it with fresh oil filter and everything seems to be fine?! Any tips? Was I just too low on oil?

 

Light should not have came on with it being only 1 quart low. What kind of filter did you use? Fram and other filters do not allow good circulation like the OEM Volvo, Mann or (some say) Bosch filters do. I only use Mann.

 

Check your oil pressure.... its most likely the oil pan o-rings Just did mine... its a little of a pain in the ***, but well worth it

 

These engines tend to tick when they get low on oil.

 

No ticking. The proble, may be fixed, I ran it yesterday for a while at idle after the oil change (15 minutes) then drove it home and on an errand or two. No oil light. Not convinced its fixed yet, lol