What Does The No-Oil Pressure Warning In Volvos Signify?
by schearerswpadmin February 11, 2019Warning lights on car dashboards are meant to notify drivers of any problems that may have developed within the car parts. Unfortunately, these signs cause anxiety to many drivers more often than not. This is particularly the case when it comes to those urgent sounding alerts that require the driver to stop at once and get their car checked out.
One such warning that can bring on panic among Volvo drivers is the no-oil pressure warning that goes further to suggest that you stop as soon as you can. It is highly likely that as a Volvo driver you will experience this warning sign in the course of your driving. You may also notice that the warning light goes off after switching the car off for a while and starting again only to come back much later. Some drivers have reported that the light comes on when the engine is idling or when they take on sharp bends, or hit bumps or potholes, hard.
In 2013, Volvo manufacturers called back thousands of their cars as a result of an oil sensor problem that made numerous drivers receive the no oil pressure warning sign. The Volvo may be one of the most reliable car models in the market but that doesn’t make it immune to defects like this. Fortunately, they continuously improve on their models and have significantly reduced the number of vehicles that suffer engine damage due to low to no oil pressure. These improvements are the reason why the Volvo driver today will receive a notification when their oil pressure is below optimum so that they can seek help instead of their engine turning into toast without warning like it used to happen before.
Causes Of The No-Oil Pressure Warning Light
The no-oil pressure warning light can come on for a number of reasons. These reasons include:
Faulty o-rings
These rings are responsible for sealing off the oil pump that controls the amount of oil allowed into the engine. When they become faulty, a leak will start in the engine causing a decrease in the level of oil and in turn this will lower the pressure of the oil.
Bad oil pressure gauge sensor
This is the component that ensures that the oil pressure in the engine is maintained at optimum. The whole process can be directly affected by an electrical fault since it is linked to the car’s computerized system. Such a fault can cause the sensor to send off wrong messages, causing the no-oil pressure warning light to come on. If you notice that your oil levels are fine and the engine is running as usual but the warning light still comes on, chances are the sensor has malfunctioned and is sending out wrong messages.
Bad oil filter
This is the part that ensures no contaminants get into the engine through the oil by removing them in advance. When the filter becomes clogged by the contaminants that it keeps out of the engine, the pressure relief valve will no longer function fully, causing the pressure of oil going through the filter to be lowered.
Internal engine problems
These problems are mostly linked to a worn out engine. Over time, the engine parts wear out because of constant movement that causes friction. When these parts become worn out, the clearance through which the fuel is supposed to pass becomes wider and this reduces the pressure of oil in the engine significantly.
What To Do
Volvo XC40The no-oil pressure warning light is usually accompanied by a call to stop driving the car immediately. This is a call that all drivers should heed because it is for the good of their engines. Low oil pressure can cause extensive damage to the engine of the car and this can bring about unplanned extra costs that could have otherwise been prevented.
Seeking the help of a professional mechanic as soon as possible for proper diagnosis of the cause of the warning light is the best course of action in this situation. Schearer’s Sales and Service, Inc. has the experience and qualification required to ensure that the no-oil pressure warning in your Volvo is diagnosed and fixed satisfactorily. We are available on call for Volvo owners living in and around Allentown, Bethlehem, and Macungie, PA. Get in touch with us as soon as you can and we’ll get you back on the road in no time.
* Volvo XC40 image credit goes to: y_carfan.