The oil light comes on when braking: causes and solution
Have you experienced the check engine light on your dash coming on when you hit the brakes? It’s hard not to be disturbed if this happens unexpectedly while driving. In this article, I will discuss why the oil light comes on when braking: causes and solution.
If the engine oil light flashes and stays on when you are braking, it could be because the engine oil inside the engine is already low. Since oil is a liquid, and if it’s already low, it can leak out of the oil pressure sensor when you hit the brakes.
As oil moves forward and away from the oil pressure sensor, it causes the engine oil light to come on. It’s a sure sign that your car’s engine is low on motor oil. This happens when you stop your car or even when you accelerate hard. The engine oil light will turn off when it returns to an acceptable level for the sensor.
Read on to learn more about why the oil light on your dash comes on every time you hit the brakes and what you can do to fix it.
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Oil light comes on when braking
Low engine oil level
Seeing your engine oil light suddenly come on when you hit the brakes is disturbing. This can happen if the engine oil level inside the engine is already low. What usually happens is that when you hit the brakes, the oil can slip forward and away from the oil pressure sensor.
Even though oil is thicker than water, it’s still a liquid that can easily shift position when you move it. As you move away from the oil pressure sensor, the action will activate the engine oil light on the dash and the light will come on.
However, when your car stops, or even when you accelerate, the engine will reach an acceptable level for the pressure sensor. Then the engine oil light on your dash will go out.
Fill in engine oil
The most likely reason for this is that your car’s engine oil level is about to run low. You have to check if it is. And if it’s really low, you should top it up or change it completely if it’s time to change your engine oil.
Can you continue driving if the oil light comes on?
Is it okay for me to keep driving while the oil light is on? I’m afraid it isn’t. If this light comes on at any time while driving, take it seriously. It is telling you that it is not safe to continue driving your car.
The correct oil pressure is no longer present inside the engine. When you see this light, pull over to a safe place where you can park as soon as possible. Let your engine rest for a while. Do it if you can call a mechanic or tow truck. Failure to do so could cause further damage to the engine.
Check the oil filter
In addition to checking the engine oil, you can also check the oil filter. If it is already clogged or dirty with sludge, replace it with a new filter of the same type and size. You can also drain the existing motor oil inside the engine and change it with the same type and grade of motor oil.
Hopefully, after doing this, the check engine light will go off by itself the next time you start the engine. If so, you can get back to driving your car without worrying that you might damage the engine.
Why does the oil light come on when you brake?
When the engine oil light on your dash comes on suddenly when you’re braking, it could indicate that the engine oil inside is already low. Oil is a liquid, and since it’s already at a low level inside your engine, it will move away from the oil pressure sensor when you brake.
That is the likely reason why the engine oil light on the dash is coming on. However, that is not the only possible reason. There are other reasons why this oil light can come on when braking:
1. Clogged or dirty filter
If the oil filter is dirty, clogged, or leaking, the oil light will also come on whenever you brake. The apparent solution if the filter is dirty or clogged is to clean it thoroughly. Then put it in place and see if it works. If not, you need to replace the filter entirely.
Click here to view this oil filter on the internet.
2. Oil momentarily loses contact with sensor
How can the oil pressure sensor detect the oil if the oil inside the engine is almost zero? When you hit the brakes, the remaining oil pan goes to the front of the pan.
This will briefly expose the oil pickup tube and cause a momentary lack of oil causing the oil light to flash.
3. Low engine oil pressure
When your engine is idling, your oil pressure is at its lowest. If the oil light flashes while the engine is idling, the oil pressure is lower than recommended. That’s not a good sign.
This may be due to the following:
- oil too thin
- A faulty oil pressure sensor, or
- Engine wear.
Using a pressure gauge to determine if the oil sensor is sending the correct pressure reading, you should check the oil pressure.
If your reading is correct, the engine oil is too thin. You should replace it with higher viscosity oil. For example, if you use 5W-30 oil, replace it with 10W-30. Or you can add an oil thickener to the existing oil.
4. Defective oil pump
The oil pump can also degrade over time. One of the causes of the oil light coming on unexpectedly is an oil pump that is already worn out. Check the condition of the oil pump and replace it if it is already malfunctioning.
Some of the signs that the oil pump is malfunctioning are the following:
- Engine oil pressure is low
- Strange noise coming from the pump.
- engine overheating
- Strange noise coming from the valve train.
- Grinding noise created by hydraulic lifters
5. Defective oil pressure sensor
I already mentioned that the oil pressure sensor is not reporting the correct oil pressure. This can also cause the oil light to come on even if the oil pressure is correct. Over time, this sensor will also wear out and not work like it used to. You must replace it with a new sensor.
Click here to view this oil pressure sensor on the internet.
Again, why does the oil light come on when braking? When the oil light comes on while braking, it may mean that your car’s oil level is low. With a nearly empty tank, oil can spill out when braking.
6. Bad fuel injector
If there is a problem with your car’s fuel injection system, it will also cause your oil light to come on. On vehicles that use carburetors, flooding issues will also cause the oil light to come on.
If the fuel injection system is not working properly, excess fuel will go into the oil pan and can dilute the oil inside.
When you hit the brakes, the diluted motor oil will rise rapidly in all directions. If that happens, the oil light on your dash will come on. You can pull out the engine oil dipstick and smell it if it contains the smell of gasoline.
If so, have a mechanic fix the problem as soon as possible. Problems like this can damage your engine due to insufficiently efficient lubrication.
7. Bad electrical wiring
If the electrical wiring leading to the oil pressure sensor is faulty or loose, it will also cause the oil light to flash when you hit the gas or brakes. Make sure the sensor wiring is correct, not loose or corroded, and you will not experience this problem.
What should you do if the low oil pressure light comes on while driving?
There are several solutions to the problem of the oil light coming on when the brakes are applied. If you are not sure about the actual cause of the problem, you can still use the following solutions. Hopefully, they’ll prevent your oil light from coming on when you hit the brakes:
1. Troubleshoot
Here are the things you can do to determine what is causing an activated oil light:
Check for leaks
If there are oil leaks in your car, it could be one of the reasons for low oil pressure. Trace the source of the leak. Or have a competent mechanic do it and fix the leak as soon as possible. This leak is probably one of the reasons the engine has low oil pressure.
Check the oil filter
Inspect the oil filter. If it is too dirty or clogged, try to clean it and put it back. If it doesn’t do the trick, you have to replace it. A dirty or clogged oil filter will limit the flow of motor oil into the engine, leading to low oil pressure and other problems.
Check the oil level
See if the oil level is not below the minimum mark. If so, fill it with the same grade of oil prescribed by the manufacturer.
Read your car’s operator’s manual to see the correct grade of motor oil your vehicle needs. For example, if you use 5W-30 oil, replace it with 10W-30. Or you can add an oil thickener to the existing oil.
2. Fix low engine oil pressure
If the oil pressure is giving the correct oil pressure reading, and yet the oil light comes on under braking, you need to correct the grade of engine oil inside the engine. If the oil is too thin, replace it with a higher viscosity motor oil.
However, it is defective if the sensor does not report the correct oil pressure. As it ages, this sensor will wear out. When this happens, you need to replace it with a new sensor.
You can also use an OBD2 scanner to check if the sensor still works. This scanner will not only show if the sensor is already damaged, but also tell you about other problems with engine oil, fuel pressure and other things.
Click here to view this ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner on the Internet.
In conclusion
If the engine oil inside your engine is already low, it can cause your engine oil light to come on when you apply the brakes.
The reason is: motor oil is a liquid, and if its quantity inside your engine is already low, it will move away from the oil pressure sensor every time you brake. As a result, the engine oil light on the dash will come on.
It is a sign that the amount of engine oil is already low. As the oil moves up and away from the oil pressure sensor, the light will flash when you hit the brakes.
