help!!

[XxKEITHxX]

Hey guys,
So when my car is on idle the little oil light thing pops up or flickers
But when I start driving again it goes away any ideas what that's all about??

[Xenocide]

What is your oil level at????

Sounds like you have low oil causing a low oil pressure situation.

[b.u.ti-ful]

That would be my guess too.

[Xenocide]

Haha, its not a guess, no other reason the oil light would come on. I mean the sensor could go bad, but thats about a 1 in a few thousand chance. And the fact that he says it goes away while driving means that the pump is able to scavenge enough oil to build some pressure.

[cooljess76]

Cracks me up when people come here screaming for help when they haven't made the slightest effort to find out what the problem is in the first place. Seriously, it took longer to log on here and start a thread than it would have taken to pop the hood and pull the dipstick out

"OMG a light came on!!!" "My car shakes!" for cryin out loud, look under the hood, read the codes, jack the car up, do something before you freak out and cry for help.

[XxKEITHxX]

no ive checked the oil level in its perfectly fine. I wouldnt come and post if that was the problem.
Found yesterday that the pressure hose is loose. the end coming from the secondary air pump. I put it back on but it wont click on the the pump everytime the pump turns on it stays there but i can see that air is escaping, im buying a new one. Would that be a cause?

[b.u.ti-ful]

I don't think the secondary air pump would set off the oil light.

But, the positive crankcase ventilation valve might.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Also, is the oil fresh?

Did you check the level with the engine cold?

[XxKEITHxX]

Yes the oil is new. just got it done a week ago.ea
I think i got that part changed already but i will check.
ALso im leaking oil and have now idea wherfe its coming from cause it is wet under there.

[b.u.ti-ful]

I have read on this site that people clean out or replace their PCV valve after experiencing idling problems, but I have not heard of the light coming on specifically.

It is number 16:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...62&hg=11&fg=15

[XxKEITHxX]

yup i got that replaced a while back cause it was leaking.
Ill check the oil when it cooler. Also it is leaking oil. but i have no idea where its coming from. any ideas on how i can find out?

[b.u.ti-ful]

The only way I know is the hard way.

Clean everything so you can see better.

There is an old trick to spray Dr. Scholl's foot powder spray on the clean surfaces to pinpoint a leak, but I don't think you'll need to go that far!

[XxKEITHxX]

Would you happen to know anything else that could possibly cause oil pressure to be to low or oil levels?

[Xenocide]

The ONLY way the oil light will come on is low oil pressure. something is up with your oil system. You have to have low oil, otherwise you have some sort of electrical gremlins.

[b.u.ti-ful]

Oil can end up on the ground, out the tailpipe or in the coolant.

Stains on the driveway would be obvious.

Smoke out the tailpipe is sometimes hard to tell, but if your exhaust smells like burning oil or you can actually see smoke, chances are your piston rings are letting oil into the combustion chamber.

If there is oil in the coolant, there might also be coolant in the oil which indicates a leaky head gasket - you might see steam come out of the tailpipe and your oil and coolant look like coffee with cream.