Why does the oil light come on when the handbrake is pulled?

[McBlakely]

There are two reasons why the oil light comes on when the handbrake is pulled. The first is insufficient oil. When you press the brake and the engine speed drops, the pressure fails to meet the required level, causing the oil indicator light to illuminate. The second reason is the use of low-quality oil with insufficient viscosity, which can also trigger the oil light when braking. First, it's essential to determine whether it's a genuine or false alarm. 1. Genuine Alarm: The oil pressure is indeed below the design requirements. Causes: 1. Lack of oil; 2. Blockage in the lubrication circuit; 3. Clogged oil pan filter screen; 4. Unqualified oil filter; 5. Issues with the oil pump; 6. Turbocharger pressure leakage; 7. Problems with the selected oil viscosity. The viscosity is too low and does not meet the engine manufacturer's design requirements, or water has entered the oil. Solution: Use an oil pressure gauge to directly measure the actual oil pressure to identify the issue, then address it step by step based on the causes mentioned above. 2. False Alarm: The actual oil pressure is fine, but the alarm is triggered. Causes: 1. The oil pressure sensor itself is faulty; 2. There is an issue with the wiring connected to the sensor.