244DL Oil Pressure Light

BrickBoard Archives

The files contained in this listing have been automatically archived from the active forums. Because the vast majority of posts are now in one place, this archive is considered legacy. You should use the SEARCH feature OR choose your topic and select date tabs within the forum you choose.

244DL Oil Pressure Light[ALL/1998] posted by G. Prosnik on
Thursday, 14 August 1997, at 9:25 a.m.

I have a 1981 244DL with 186K miles. At low idle in hot weather the oil lite comes on momentarily (abot 1/2 second) as RPMs go below 600. The light goes out when the RPMs stablize to 750-900 RPM. I've used synthetic oil since I got the car and had the dealer look at it for internal wear and there was none (honing marks are still there on cylinder walls). It this a normal thing for older, high mileage Volvos?

Re: 244DL Oil Pressure Light[ALL/1998] posted by Stoney on
Thursday, 14 August 1997, at 1:33 p.m.

It could be that the synthetic oil is not developing enough thickness (viscosity?), to keep the sender working, or it could be that the sender is wearing out and needs the extra oomph of the higher revs to give an indication.

Try swapping the sender or install a VDO guage using the dual sender that sends signal to both guage and indicator light. (Easy install-no big deal)

Re: 244DL Oil Pressure Light[ALL/1998] posted by Abe Crombie on
Thursday, 14 August 1997, at 6:52 p.m.

The B21/23 engines always have had a tendency to exhibit what you
describe when 10W30 or 5W30 is used. Those engines didn't have extremely
close main or rod bearing clearances and thin oil escapes easily enough
to allow oil pressure to fall below 8 psi when idle speed dips
momentarily. I wouldn't do anything other use 15W40 as a summer oil and
drive on.
A new oil pump for a turbo model or new rod bearing inserts would likely
eliminate the problem when using light weight oils.

Re: 244DL Oil Pressure Light[ALL/1998] posted by Ed Lipe on
Friday, 15 August 1997, at 10:06 p.m.

Bring your idle up. RPM's shouldn't get that low unless you have a hook(stick).And then only at take off.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.