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sidney485
User
May 27, 2008, 3:21 PM
Post #1 of 6
(1383 views)
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My 1999 Lumina LTZ (car) has a low oil light that comes on after starting the car, to get it to go out all I have to do is restart the engine! What may cause that?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 27, 2008, 4:34 PM
Post #2 of 6
(1376 views)
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Hey - It could be the sensor right at the oil pan just needed a splash from the start up. Whatever you do DON'T let it run low or count on that - ANY CAR SHOULD BE CHECKED BY THE DIPSTICK NOW AND THEN!!
Will it go out without a restart AND knowing that it's properly full?
T
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sidney485
User
May 28, 2008, 3:48 PM
Post #3 of 6
(1365 views)
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I just typed in a long reply....and...hit the close mail button instead of the post reply..oops! will respond when I have more time thank you for your reply>
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sidney485
User
May 29, 2008, 2:49 PM
Post #4 of 6
(1361 views)
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The light seems to remain on if I do not restart, though I don't want to drive too far on purpose while the light is on. Now some history on the car: it had been in a wreck and sat for a year before starting to repair it/ windshield, air bags, hood, bumper, radiators and suport, fender....still started and ran ok 70,000 some miles on engine brand new rebuilt tranny, could understand if it was a bad wire somewhere but...it wouldn't go out every time I restart I don't think? New oil and filter made no change...have now drove a couple hundred miles now, 25 MPG
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 30, 2008, 1:33 AM
Post #5 of 6
(1356 views)
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To avoid any confusion - we are talking about a "low oil level" warning light and not a low oil pressure warning - correct?
With the history this opens the book on this. Still verify oil level. Did you change your own oil so that you know the correct amount is in it? Perhaps the dipstick isn't even correct for this car now??
The "low oil/check oil" lights I know of are sensing liquid at a given level with a sensor on the oil pan itself. I've had some be wrong and some with marginal wiring and wrong or inoperative. What I've done with cars with this feature is when oil change is done I'll add only enough to be safe but a known 1 qt low and see if the feature works. Many don't and won't read till 1.5 qts low - still ok for most cars but late for a warning IMO.
This is really an "I dunno for sure" so far. I guess the sensor itself could be faulty and snaps to when some electrical demand is put on it from the first start but stays on till the second.
I really suggest draining out all the oil (if new could be reused if you catch it with clean container) a new filter as some unknown amount stays in them and fill with known amounts checked on level surface and mark dipsick yourself with a scratch awl or whatever and make you own marks to reference. If you measure what has come out carefully and what you put back in it rules out confusion about the actual level.
From there I'd think about replacing the sensor if problem remained the same with no wiring problems found??
T
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sidney485
User
May 31, 2008, 3:38 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1350 views)
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THe words on the dash say "LOW OIL" I figured if it was pressure I may have heard some resulting damage happening clicking valve train scoring pistons etc. SHUDDER! I will take a look when I have a chance / the year old oil in the car(as it sat awaiting parts and repair time) was the first time I had this happen, I then purchased a filter and new valvoline 10w30 oil, and was surprised it still occured.
(This post was edited by sidney485 on Jun 1, 2008, 5:53 PM)
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