Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Roelf,

It only turns on when the engine is cold and I'm heading up an incline (even a relatively flattish one). When I'm back on level ground it turns off.

I can drive the same inclines with a slightly warmer engine and it doesn't come on.

For those who know Cape Town: I leave work in Mowbray, onto the N2 towards town, when I'm halfway up hospital bend the oil level light turns on, but when I hit the downhill bends on De Waal drive it turns off never to come on again on that trip. But if I'm driving home from the airport by the time I hit hospital bend the engine is warm and the light doesn't come on.

I think they added a bit more oil than standard on my last service because it didn't do this until I'd done about 5000kms...

dwinter wrote:
I think they added a bit more oil than standard on my last service because it didn't do this until I'd done about 5000kms...

next time specify for them to use delo 400. Maybe the oil quality has an influence.

I don't know how the oil level sensor works but in my passat the oil level sensor was electrical and not mechanical so the viscosity and quality played a crucial roll. Maybe it's the same with the 3.2 Di-D.

I tested it when I had my recent oil pressure switch failure so I toipped up until 3/4 and the light didn't come on. I topped up until the full mark and the light didn't come on. I topped up again to 7mm over full and all seems good still.

After the failure when pulling off the road I checked the level and it was just below the minimum.

I suspect the oil level sensor (based on my experience and the rate of lost oil) is designed to trigger at just below 1/4.

Perhaps the sensor in your car has twisted of the standard position and now sits slightly skew giving a different reading.

The key for you is that you know how it behaves so if it does something out of the ordinary you know something is amiss.

Hmm, good advice, the dealer replaced mine yesterday, said there was a small oil leak from it.

2004 Pajero 3.2 Di-D SWB - 109,700km

Had noticed some oil marks on the front of the bash plate, but no oil ever on the ground so I hadn't been too concerned.

I have a possible explanation on why the oil light only comes on when cold. The oil is thicker when cold and takes longer to drop back in to the sump and the "faulty" sensor is actually giving a correct reading.
Over filling the sump by about half a liter would not cause a big problem, I do this all the time and have sorted my noisy lifters by doing just that. If one goes crazy and overfills by more than a liter you would get the crank whipping the oil in to a foamy froth and that would go through the pump giving you the same effect as very low oil level, inadequate lubrication.
I am of the old school. if an idiot light comes on sort it out. That is why it is called an idiot light, ignore it and take the consequences.

Can you guys post a picture or something what it looks like.

I noticed a bit of oil on the turbo side.

Do I have to drain the oil before I change the pressure switch?
Sorry for the dumb questions but we have to learn somehow

it's a pain to get to. Remove the airbox to gain some access. You can get there with a small extension, UJ and 24 or 27 socket.

Thread the new one first by hand as the thread is very fine and easily damaged.

If you have big hands, get a helper with small hands.

It sits almost exactly behind the turbo. Follow the single wire that leads to it.

No you dont need to drain the oil but believe me its not easy to get to the little bugger.

I had mine done on a lift wich make it a bit easier to reach.

Mine started with a small leak and if it was'nt for Maruis post it could have let me down on the road.

Thanks for the heads up,

Got my 2006 LWB a while ago, saw your post and checked the switch, seemed "new"(lesson: replace!!) . 2 Weeks later on route to a 4x4 trip the rear window suddenly was covered in oil, stopped, got out and the oil was running like a shower. Luckily Oil pressure was still OK (might be the 8mm overfill), but the low oil level light never came on.

Back home (via a low bed) found the switch was the culprit, and the wiring behind the low level switch was exposed with the brown and black making contact.

Seems the new switch is "new & improved" Next up the new and improved timing chain guide.

This past Friday on my way home just outside of town on came the RED oil light. It was a matter of 200m when i came to a dead stop and engine switched off.

With what seems to be a oil disaster bigger than the Exxon Valdez spill below the PJ and still dripping.

First thought was the oil pressure sensor, and so it was. R125 part.

All fixed now.

I wonder why your low oil level light didn't come on?