307 1.4L Petrol: Low Oil Pressure warning

The "oil pressure low" message appears on the center screen along with
the low oil warning light. Occasionally, the stop engine light comes up.

This happens at low rpms, when (a) accelerating very gently in 1st or
2nd gear, or, (b) coming to a stop from highway speeds without
down-shifting. It has never occurred when cruising or accelerating harshly.

The local dealer has not been able to find anything wrong with the car
Is this a known "bug" with the 307's electronics, or is there a
documented flaw in the oil system design for this model?

The car is a 2004 with 80 K (kilometers) and has always been serviced on
time by authorized shops.

Thanks for any tips on the subject.

Nikos

 

Try and find out what grade of oil they put in your car when they
serviced it,it might be too thin,(i know it sound funny but it does
happen)

 

They said 20W-50 Shell synthetic. I cannot be sure about the synthetic
part (maybe they used plain mineral oil instead), but 20W-50 is the most
common grade around here and I can be fairly confident it's what they
actually used.

Nikos

 

the only way to be 100% is drain the oil out and replace it with your
own brand which u like.

 

Thanks Chris,

your tip about thin oil makes sense. But I would like to verify the
actual oil pressure before changing the oil again. Is this (measuring
oil pressure) a diy job? Getting an oil pressure gauge, hooking it up to
the engine and measuring p at idle? Can you tell me where to look for
the hook?

TIA,

Nikos

 

The good old one are the best, one u screw into where the oil light
switch is, now days it is all eletric so some where in there u should
be able to pick up a point to get a reading ,

 

Before you do all that check the oil filter. It's the paper filter in
a canister type and they mustn't be overtightened when fitted. If they
are the plastic valve can break off and lower the pressure. It's
usually the later 1.4 or 1.6 petrol engines that do this. If you fit a
new filter and o-ring, turn the plastic housing until it contacts the
lower part and then go just a tiny bit more. Really it's just enough
to stop it leaking!

 

:Chris wrote:
:> Try and find out what grade of oil they put in your car when they
:> serviced it,it might be too thin,(i know it sound funny but it does
:> happen)
:
:They said 20W-50 Shell synthetic. I cannot be sure about the synthetic
art (maybe they used plain mineral oil instead), but 20W-50 is the most
:common grade around here and I can be fairly confident it's what they
:actually used.
:
:Nikos


20W-50 grade oil is NOT approved for the 307 petrol engines, particularly in
Europe or wherever the weather gets very cold in Winter. Cold starting viscosity
of 20W is far too high.

The only approved oil grade for the 307 EW10A engine is 5W-40 synthetic with an
ACEA A3/B4 rating (or better). There are plenty of brands which meet this spec.

If you have set up an account with Peugeot servicebox the oil restriction chart
is here
http://public.servicebox.peugeot.co...9vCByVQAP12626257/REV/dexp/code/res_en_us.htm

 

Thanks Ross, I was not aware of this and in fact at least two authorized
dealers have repetitively used 20W-50 on my car; call it negligence or
ignorance or whatever you like

However, I seriously doubt that 20W-50 is the cause of the "low pressure
warning" I get. If you know how I can have the car oil-pressure tested
myself and are willing to share some details, I would be much obliged.

Nikos

 

:Ross Herbert wrote:
:
:> 20W-50 grade oil is NOT approved for the 307 petrol engines, particularly in
:> Europe or wherever the weather gets very cold in Winter. Cold starting
viscosity
:> of 20W is far too high.
:>
:> The only approved oil grade for the 307 EW10A engine is 5W-40 synthetic with
an
:> ACEA A3/B4 rating (or better). There are plenty of brands which meet this
spec.
:>
:
:Thanks Ross, I was not aware of this and in fact at least two authorized
:dealers have repetitively used 20W-50 on my car; call it negligence or
:ignorance or whatever you like
:
:However, I seriously doubt that 20W-50 is the cause of the "low pressure
:warning" I get. If you know how I can have the car oil-pressure tested
:myself and are willing to share some details, I would be much obliged.
:
:Nikos


I would change the oil first to the correct grade just in case the viscosity is
preventing either the oil pressure sensor or the oil pump from producing the
correct pressure.

I'm not a mechanic but I would think that if you do not have any oil leaks,
there is no water in the oil (that is very easy to spot), the exhaust is not
belching smoke,and you know that the oil level is correct (and it is the correct
grade), then the only possible causes I can see are;
1. Scored big-ends
2. faulty oil pump
3. faulty oil pressure switch (or sensor)

If you know that the engine is unlikely to have scored big-ends then I would be
inclined to simply change the oil pressure switch first up - these do go faulty.
On my other car the oil pressure lamp started to come up and I thought it
couldn't be the pressure switch since I had put a new aftermarket one in only 2
years previously when the original sprung a leak. However, I decided that I
would exchange it for a new genuine type and since then it has not come up in
the last 12 months.

 

But Nigel is. . .

Ron Robinson

 

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:25:12 +0100, "R N Robinson"

:
::>
:>
:> I'm not a mechanic
:
:But Nigel is. . .
:
:Ron Robinson
:


Thanks for the enlightenment Ron....
You obviously have better knowledge of Nigel's qualifications. But that is
hardly surprising since I am new to this group and haven't read any previous
posts by Nigel.

I have only just read the post by Nigel in this thread, and while his advice
concerning oil filter replacement was entirely acccurate it was not necessarily
evidence of his qualification. I also follow the same method method based on
many years of experience and instruction from my older brother who is a
mechanic.

 

Just to add my two penn'orth. I can say from personal experience that
Nigel really knows his stuff. He has saved my bacon on a number of
occasions. Thanks again Nigel.

 

Hi guys,

thanks for all the replies, I have learned a lot. Unfortunately the
issue has not been resolved yet. I will post a resume when (if) it does.
The car has gone into "limp" mode after a "catalytic converter" fault
recently, so now I have a bigger fish to fry... Or is it the same fish
in disguise... Oh well, last Peugeot for me in any case...

Please advise on the cat issue in a separate thread (upcoming).

Thanks,

Nikos