STOP! check engine oil pressure

[04e53x5]

So yesterday I was driving home stopped at a red light right before it turned green the oil
Light started flickering and stop engine oil pressure message popped up and the idle was very low so I held the break and tapped the gas to bump up the rpms and it all went away so I when I started to drive it all went away like it never happened the oil light would flicker and nothing else the whole way home the light would just flicker no messages when I got home I checked the oil and it right around max I let it cool off a little hoping that it was just hot considering the temp was around 90 yesterday when it was relatively cool (temp.needle was by blue) started it up nothing different then any other day so I took it for a drive and absolutely nothing no messages no flickering lights I read it may be the oil pressure switch or the oil pump but there's no exact solution for this people all did different things to solve it any info would help it's a 04 3.0i

[Ricky Bobby]

scan it and see if you have faults at the oil pressure switch

if your oil pump itself actually died you wouldn't be driving around like it never happened lol

[04e53x5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

scan it and see if you have faults at the oil pressure switch

if your oil pump itself actually died you wouldn't be driving around like it never happened lol

could this be the starting of the pump failing??

[upallnight]

What weight oil are you using? If you are using a lighter weight of oil it can cause the light to flicker once the engine warms up. A hot engine thins out the oil.

[Ricky Bobby]

I haven't heard of many oil pump failures on M54's unless you have a ton of sludge in the bottom of the pan, have you done recent oil changes and all looked good on drainage? If so I wouldn't believe you have a failing oil pump but I've been wrong before.

My first suggestion is get the faults scanned with DIS then we will know whether its just an electrical fault at the switch or not.

[04e53x5]

Originally Posted by upallnight

What weight oil are you using? If you are using a lighter weight of oil it can cause the light to flicker once the engine warms up. A hot engine thins out the oil.

Mobil 1 5w30

[cn90]

Go to bimmerfest E39 (5-series sedan) section and search "low oil pressure red light", and you will see this is not an uncommon problem in the M52, M54 engines.

Possible causes:

- Oil P switch (rarely the problem), but for $10, replace it.

- Wiring issues

- Bad Vanos seals, allowing oil to leak past the seals (only at idle)

- Gunk (from extended oil change intervals) causing blockage of the oil P switch. Some people remove the oil P switch, crank for 2-3 sec to expel some oil/gunk, then re-install the oil P switch. If you do this, place a rag around the port to absorb the oil!

- Oil Filter Plastic Cap: check to be sure the tip and the 2 tiny O-rings are still there.

Most of the time, this has no significant consequence, a little "red light at idle" and that is all, but it causes nervous breakdown for the owner lol...

And of course, check your oil level first!

[04e53x5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I haven't heard of many oil pump failures on M54's unless you have a ton of sludge in the bottom of the pan, have you done recent oil changes and all looked good on drainage? If so I wouldn't believe you have a failing oil pump but I've been wrong before.

My first suggestion is get the faults scanned with DIS then we will know whether its just an electrical fault at the switch or not.

My last oil change was about 8000 miles ago. I'm changing it today Ido have 186k on the clock

[04e53x5]

Originally Posted by cn90

Go to bimmerfest E39 (5-series sedan) section and search "low oil pressure red light", and you will see this is not an uncommon problem in the M52, M54 engines.

Possible causes:

- Oil P switch (rarely the problem), but for $10, replace it.

- Wiring issues

- Bad Vanos seals, allowing oil to leak past the seals (only at idle)

- Gunk (from extended oil change intervals) causing blockage of the oil P switch. Some people remove the oil P switch, crank for 2-3 sec to expel some oil/gunk, then re-install the oil P switch. If you do this, place arag around the port to absorb the oil!

- Oil Filter Plastic Cap: check to be sure the tip and the 2 tiny O-rings are still there.

Most of the time, this has no significant consequence, a little "red light at idle" and that is all, but it causes nervous breakdown for the owner lol...

And of course, check your oil level first!

The oil level is right below max would the vanos just give out all of a sudden?

[Ricky Bobby]

Jesus man with 186k I would be doing more frequent changes to keep it fresh and make sure no gunk accumulates. I do about 5-6k on oil

At your mileage your vanos seals might need looking into as well, but I would check the switch and make sure no gunk in the port for it when replacing first, cn90 knows his stuff I would listen to him!