P0199 fault code: Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent

P0199 means “Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Confirm P0199 on a scan tool; chasing an intermittent oil-temp circuit is not DIY.

Do not DIYReviewed page boundary
ToolsSpecialist equipment

This is the conservative boundary from the reviewed code record. This page has no frozen site-wide safety grade, so it does not publish a repair route.

What to tell the garage about P0199

Do not drive until checked. The oil-temperature signal is dropping in and out instead of holding a steady value. That usually points to an intermittent sender or wiring, not a one-off high reading.

Take these reviewed, code-specific details with you. They help the garage confirm the fault without turning this page into a repair procedure.

  • Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent: Registration number
  • Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent: Exact code P0199 and any companion codes
  • Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent: When the lamp flickered (wet roads, bumps, after start)
  • Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent: Freeze-frame oil or coolant temperature if the scanner showed it
P01xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0199 mean?

P0199 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P01xx block, which covers fuel and air metering. The stored description is “Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Intermittent”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0199 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major MOT defect until repaired. An intermittent lamp that is on at the test is still a fail.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe.
P0100Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit P0101Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Range/Performance P0102Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input P0103Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input P0104Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent P0105Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit P0106Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Range/Performance P0107Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Low Input

P0199 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0199?

Do not drive until checked. We have no verified driving guidance for P0199. Intermittent oil-temperature data is not a licence to keep driving. Treat as do not drive until a garage has seen the freeze-frame.

Will P0199 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major MOT defect until repaired. An intermittent lamp that is on at the test is still a fail.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.