Hello everyone,

I purchased a used 2003 Jaguar X Type configured with the petrol 2.0 V6 engine. The VIN is SAJAE51N43YD46284.

I'm having a problem with a flickering (red) oil pressure light. I noticed that the light would come on intermittently while driving so I took it to a local mechanic and we replaced the oil pressure sensor.

After I got the car back from the shop I still had the same problem with the "low oil pressure light" but now it would come on less frequently and it would only flicker for a few seconds and turn off.

I decided to take the my 2003 X Type to the only Jaguar dealer in the country. They said that I had to replace the oil pressure sensor again. I was okay with that thinking that maybe the other mechanic either never replaced it in the first place or maybe installed a poor quality part.

After changing the oil pressure sensor for a second time in less than 1 month the Jaguar dealer then tells me that my car was still having the same problem and that they recommend an engine flush to see if the car gets better.

I told them I was going to pay for the repairs up to that point and that I wanted my car back.

What I have noticed with the oil pressure light is that it will come on only when the RPM's go under 1000. Whenever I release the accelerator pedal and the RPM's drop below 1,000 that's when the light will come on. As soon as I apply pressure on the gas pedal and the car accelerates (or the rpm's go over 1,000) the light will dissapear.

The Jaguar dealer wants to charge me about USD $800 to flush the engine, change the oil and change the oil sump gaskets.

Can anyone share some insight about this problem?

 

Hi Gerrard,

I haven't seen any such issue with my 2.1 V6 @ approximately 135,000Km.
Going to probably need some more general information to get a better picture of the car's current state.

What is the mileage on your vehicle?
When did you buy it and was this flickering light symptom present almost immediately, or has arisen months/years later?
Do you have any service history as to when and what oil + filter changes have been done and at what mileages?
Do you know what grade of oil it is currently running?
Is the flickering light at low RPM present when engine is still cold shortly after start up (after the initial start higher RPM drop down), or is it most evident when engine is fully warmed up?
When you pull the dipstick to check the oil level (assuming it is filled to the correct level), does the oil appear 'honey coloured' and relatively clear, or is it heavily blackened?

I see you have listed your country as simply PA.....what country do you live in? (might have some bearing on your seasonal temperatures and preferred lubrication specifications to use).

 

Hello Mark,

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Here I have some answers to the questions:

What is the mileage on your vehicle? - Mileage: 24,404 miles (unless the instrument cluster was altered or messed with in any way)

When did you buy it and was this flickering light symptom present almost immediately, or has arisen months/years later?

The car was purchased in August. I didn't notice the issue while test-driving the car. It did flicker a few times while driving it home afterward. I immediately took it to the shop for an oil change thinking that maybe it needed to be topped up. I obviously didn't want to drive it like that and I figured that it was probably just low on oil.

Long story short we did the oil and filter change and replaced the oil pressure sensor a few days after buying it in August.

As per the paperwork the first auto shop gave me they used "5W-40 full synthetic oil." I'm not sure about what brand they used, since they did not list the brand. They also replaced the oil filter, but I don't know what kind of oil filter they used.

I kept having the same problem so I took it to the only Jaguar dealer in Panama. They replaced the oil pressure sensor again. They recommended an engine flush and obviously changing the oil and oil filters.

Do you have any service history as to when and what oil + filter changes have been done and at what mileages? - The car had a service history with the Jaguar dealer in Panama. If I remember correctly the last maintenance which is stamped and signed on the service record book in the car was in 2019 at the Jaguar dealer. I'm thinking the car just sat idle through the covid lockdowns.

Do you know what grade of oil it is currently running? - "5W-40 full synthetic oil."

Is the flickering light at low RPM present when engine is still cold shortly after start up (after the initial start higher RPM drop down), or is it most evident when engine is fully warmed up? - When the car is started from "cold and dark" it does not give me the low oil pressure warning. I have only noticed it after the car is warmed up and only if the cars RPM's go below 1000.

When you pull the dipstick to check the oil level (assuming it is filled to the correct level), does the oil appear 'honey coloured' and relatively clear, or is it heavily blackened? - Last time I checked it was honey-coloured.

I'm currently living in Panama City, Panama, the weather is hot and humid. On any given day the temperature during daylight hours is approximately 30 degrees Celsius.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate you taking the time to read this post about my situation.

Regards,

Gerard

 

Hi Gerard,

Ok, that is a very low mileage car indeed.
The original recommended oil weight for the car is 5w/30 as per the thread link below.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...cation-195851/

I assume because of your warmer climate, the local garages there might be opting to use a slightly higher oil weight to better cope with the climate temperatures up to 40C.
Found this excerpt from another posting site quoting correspondence from Jaguar UK...
"Thanks to all who have contributed to this discussion. For clarity (of a sort) I have received the following reply from Jaguar UK

Oil specification - petrol engineAn oil of 5W-30 viscosity meeting Jaguar specification WSS-M2C-913 - A or B is preferred. Where this is not possible, oil meeting API SJ/EC and ACEA A1 98 or A3 98 may be used.

SAE Viscosity Rating - For climates ranging from -30°C (-22°F) to +50°C
(+122°F), the following oil viscosities may be used:
0W-30
5W-30 (preferred)
0W-40
5W-40
Note: It is recommended that the oil level is topped up using oil of the same
viscosity. If you are unsure which oil viscosity is used in your car, your Jaguar Dealer/Authorised Repairer will be able to advise. If you are operating this vehicle in climates outside the above temperature range, contact your Jaguar Dealer/ Authorised Repairer for advice."

As to your issue, it might be worth running some suitable oil flush treatment in the engine yourself for the prescribed period, then dumping the oil and refilling with a 5W/30 suitable spec oil and a new filter.
Such a low mileage engine would imply very infrequent use or certainly long periods of standing idle and could have allowed any sediments (and seals) not being regularly stirred up to harden.

The curious point is that your low pressure light issue is seemingly more likely to occur when the oil is hotter and effectively more viscous, which would normally tend to point to the oil circulation finding easier pathways to escape through rather than building pressure. Such things on older worn engines like enlarged clearances in crankshaft, conrod or camshaft bearings that is letting the oil pass thorough them more easily and lowering the system pressure. Not what I would expect on your very low mileage engine.
The remaining thought is whether your oil pump might have a delivery issue.

Start with a engine cleaning treatment and appropriate oil and filter change.
If you are running the right oil and still having issues, then it might warrant further investigation into whether the oil pump itself is somehow not picking up and delivering enough volume at low RPM.

******* Any other members have some additional thoughts for Gerard? *********

 

Mark,

Thanks again for your time and effort!

I will go ahead with the engine flush. And the fixing of an engine leak coming from the top of the engine.

From the quote that the dealer sent me the type of oil listed for the engine oil top-up after the flush reads as: "10W30 Castrol" - Any idea why they would go with that?

And just to make sure I understand your penultimate paragraph correctly, an engine oil leak could also be the culprit? Ah shoot, they did mention that there was an oil leak coming from the top of the engine. Apparently, there is a bit of a leak from the "valve cover." (Not sure if the same terminology is used in New Zealand. Rocker cover perhaps?)

If those don't fix the problem then I'll replace the oil pump and see how that works out.

I have plenty of work to do on this Jaguar. I bought it because of the low mileage but it had been sitting in a used car lot for a significant amount of time.

Thanks a lot for your help, Mark. I will keep you updated!

Gerard

 

Hi Gerald,

A valve cover leak will not drop your actual system oil pressure (more of a nuisance than anything, especially it finds its way into a spark plug well as it will cause a misfire). A cover leak will just eventually lower your oil level over time as you gradually lose volume and just require topping up.

The oil weight is an interesting science (which I am only a novice), but with multigrade oils, the two weights that make up the stated spec is the "winter" temperature (5W, 10W 15W or 20W), indicating the relative temperature for the winter operation where the oil stays within the prescribed specification, versus the figure after the / being the summer temperature specification....so a 5W30 is an oil expected to operate in a climate ranging between 5 degrees C in winter to 30 degrees C in summer.
I can only assume the 10W/30 quoted is again a local interpretation of oils due to your temperatures there, but Jaguar never mention a 10W in their specification for these engines, 5W typical and no doubt 0W for very cold climate conditions.

Is the engine noisy (knocks or rattles) at idle when warm and the light is flickering?
If so, is it more top end noise (e.g. cam noise), or low end crank noise?

Here's a thought from the "trust but verify" camp..........Do you know if the pressure sensor fitted was a genuine Jaguar part number or a generic part.....there might be something odd about the resistance range of the sensors they have inserted. C2S52255 is the Jaguar part number for all X-Type petrol engine versions.

 

How about simply putting a pressure gauge on an oil line and actually measuring the oil pressure to see if it’s within spec? Everything else is simply guesswork.
Doug

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...coming-225458/

you could also check in the engineering mode =

Oil pressure
OIL -X Oil pressure input status-O
-G -O=Good oil pressure (open)
-G=Low oil pressure (ground)

 

I have the same with mine. Also 2 liter V6 auto.
I will change oil and see what happens, and then drop the sump and check the pick up, it nothing improves.
Min also only at low RPM (under 1000) and when warm.
Otherwise a wonderful car.
check here as well: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...esolved-79709/
Good luck!

 

[QUOTE=h2o2steam;25829

The oil weight is an interesting science (which I am only a novice), but with multigrade oils, the two weights that make up the stated spec is the "winter" temperature (5W, 10W 15W or 20W), indicating the relative temperature for the winter operation where the oil stays within the prescribed specification, versus the figure after the / being the summer temperature specification....so a 5W30 is an oil expected to operate in a climate ranging between 5 degrees C in winter to 30 degrees C in summer.
[/QUOTE]

The W in the viscosity rating of oils does indeed refer to “winter” but only in the sense that it indicates the relative viscosity of the oil in cold temperatures and in a cold engine. The number after the W refers to the relative viscosity (“weight”) of the oil in hot ambient temperatures and in a fully heated engine. These figures do not correlate with the ambient temperature shown on a house thermometer!