Check engine oil light

The one in my '96 stays on for about 15-20 seconds no matter what.

I find it to be the most idiotic of idiot lights.
If I ever have the dash apart I'm pulling the bulb out!

Or you could replace the sensor. Then you'll know if you're ever low on oil!

AA wrote:

Or you could replace the sensor. Then you'll know if you're ever low on oil!

True, but if its failing I would think it would happen more often than just at the start up, could be wrong.

AA wrote:

Or you could replace the sensor. Then you'll know if you're ever low on oil!

I know I am never low on oil.
These 3.8 engines have never been known to have oil loss issues that I know of. Aside from leaking oil pans.

A warning light ? Sure. One that goes on when the engine really is in dire need, but not one that nags everytime you start the car and head out the driveway.
I find it odd that these cars don't have the oil change minder like even my old '92 Park Ave. has.

Sweepspear wrote:

I find it odd that these cars don't have the oil change minder like even my old '92 Park Ave. has.

I was told once they have the capability (in the ECU) but not the interface (no display). If you have the FSM, look at the Aurora's set-up for details (it has the display). Personally, i doubt it but would not be surprised if it were true.

Albertj

Quote :

A warning light ? Sure. One that goes on when the engine really is in dire need, but not one that nags everytime you start the car and head out the driveway.

Mine has never come on, it doesn't nag me because the sensor works.

If you took your car in to get your oil changed, you might check the dipstick next time you popped the hood. But if they didn't put a full 5 qts in, the car would tell you right away by turning that light on. It only comes on when you're low. I wish more cars came with that kind of insurance.

If the sensor is in the oil pan, then I would think the sensor would read the most oil on start-up since that is where all the oil is after the car has been sitting. Its just strange. If the sensor was failing, I would expect to see it at least once during driving.

That's a good point, Mark. Maybe the computer knows to only trigger the lamp if the oil level sensor sees low oil on start-up? It could be programmed to ignore all readings during driving - that's when the oil pressure sensor is on duty.

very true Who knows....I just wish it would either stop or fail out right so Id know for sure. Until then, Ill just keep my eyes on the oil levels.

I think if the oil level sensor fails, the result is a low oil light for 30 seconds every time you start up. If it only happens sometimes, to me it means the sensor is behaving erratically.

AA wrote:

Quote :

A warning light ? Sure. One that goes on when the engine really is in dire need, but not one that nags everytime you start the car and head out the driveway.

Mine has never come on, it doesn't nag me because the sensor works.

If you took your car in to get your oil changed, you might check the dipstick next time you popped the hood. But if they didn't put a full 5 qts in, the car would tell you right away by turning that light on. It only comes on when you're low. I wish more cars came with that kind of insurance.

I guess I just assumed that having it linger was the way they meant it to
be.

I still change my own oil, and formed the habit many years ago of checking all the fluids and tire pressures on my cars at least once a month.
I am impressed that after 200,000 miles It doesn't use any.

That's impressive. Mine's over 200k and it uses a little, but not more than a quart every oil change. I top it off about once per month and I do ok. I mean, oil is a lot cheaper than gas, so I don't mind!

My other car w/455 V8 from '70, 112k miles - it never burns or leaks a drop of oil.

AA wrote:

That's a good point, Mark. Maybe the computer knows to only trigger the lamp if the oil level sensor sees low oil on start-up? It could be programmed to ignore all readings during driving - that's when the oil pressure sensor is on duty.

Correct...

The computer can 'see' the level sensor at all times - at about a half-quart down my scanner can see it switch from OK to LOW after startup, because of the pump-up and the windage. However, just like with the OBD Readiness Tests, there is a set of parameters that must be met before the light is actually turned on... Before & after coolant temps and/or time between ignitions cycles is used to make sure the oil is drained back to the pan before taking the measurement.

If the low reading is valid, the light will stay on up to 7 minutes after the computer makes its decision.

mine is alway on i was told it was a bad sensor---- so i always ckeck my oil to be on the safe side.

Eldo wrote:

If the low reading is valid, the light will stay on up to 7 minutes after the computer makes its decision.

thats good to know! Thanks!

sig check

hey, i think i am having this problem. the check oil light stays on for 30-45seconds after start up. it only comes on when i start up and never during driving or anytime after that. my oil level is fine and yes i only check it on level ground. but from what i've noticed, when my car has been parked in the driveway (slightly inclined) and i start up, the light does not come up. do you think its just the sensor? where exactly is the sensor located? hopefully it just needs to be cleaned if thats the case, but worse case if needed where could i buy a replacement? thanks

It's screwed into the front side of the oil pan, and is a simple magnetic float. They're fairly cheap to buy, but one thing doesn't make sense: parking the car pointed uphill should actually make it worse...

hmm, then what do you think it could be? but yeah everytime i park in the driveway(inclined), the light doesn't stay on. opposed to when i park inside the garage(level), the light stays on.

LaFlare wrote:

hmm, then what do you think it could be? but yeah everytime i park in the driveway(inclined), the light doesn't stay on. opposed to when i park inside the garage(level), the light stays on.

Check the wiring to the sensor with a voltmeter, for continuity and shorts to the chassis. If you need further instructions on how to do that please post. The idea here is that the wire's got a problem that only shows up when you are parked level.

Beyond that, IIRC the sensors are not all that expensive, just replace it so it does not surprise you in a bad way one day by being correct but you ignoring it. If you're feeling ambitious, might want to pull the oil pan and clean it out (you may or may not find sludge), replace the oil pan gasket. If your oil pan seeps (pan looks oily) this isn't a bad idea, actually, if you've a little time on your hands.

As for replacing the sensor - - think of it as one less thing to worry about.

Albertj

actually i lied, i guess its a matter of "sometimes" about the whole parking in the driveway thing. my car was parked in the driveway today and on start up the light stayed on. so yeah, but its definitely 90% of the time the check oil level light will stay on for the extra 30-45seconds. i guess im gonna go and check the sensor whenever i get time

oh and a related question i've been meaning to ask. i'm sure its not the reason the light is going on but;
when checking the oil level on the dipstick, is the oil full when it reaches just BEFORE the letter F or AFTER the letter L? when i changed my oil i used the filter PF-52(if that matters, cuz i know you could add extra oil when u use this correct?) and i used only about 4.5 quarts. light showed up, and when i checked the oil level it was just under the letter F. then added a bit more, but not a full 5quarts, and it now sits just after L.... shouldve asked that before, but still the light shows up so i'm sure that irrelevant ?

From what I remember about the switch, it doesn't have a helluva lot of space for the float to move up & down... If, as the oil commercials say, you are a victim of SLUDGE , I suppose it could be interfering with the movement of the magnetic ring.

So yeah, before buying one you can slide under the front of the car with a big crescent wrench and remove the switch, and maybe a blast of BrakeKleen will fix it. (of course, then you should probably be thinking about a can of Rislone and an oil change, too...)

Quote :

when i changed my oil i used the filter PF-52(if that matters, cuz i know you could add extra oil when u use this correct?) and i used only about 4.5 quarts. light showed up, and when i checked the oil level it was just under the letter F. then added a bit more, but not a full 5quarts, and it now sits just after L.... shouldve asked that before, but still the light shows up so i'm sure that irrelevant ?

The car should hold exactly 5 qts when using the PF-52. 4.5 qts is the OEM spec.

oh geeze i thought i was trippin, but i guess an admin or mod WAS editing/deleting my posts lol ? sorry

i wanted to word it better if it makes a difference or not then nvm

Quote :

when checking the oil level on the dipstick, is the oil full when it reaches right before the letter F, or right after the letter L? when i changed my oil i used the filter PF-52 and i used only about 4.5 quarts. when i checked the oil level it was just under the letter F. then added a bit more, but not a full 5quarts, and it now sits just after L.... shouldve asked that before, but still the light shows up so i'm sure that irrelevant.

edit- ^ yeah i wasnt sure if i shouldve put the full 5quarts in, but at the end of the day i ended up putting total about 4.75quarts in. and i just checked my oil level and it already seems full. oil covers the word "full" and sits right after the letter L.
is that the proper way to know if its full? and what if i used the regular suggested OEM filter, where would the oil level sit after 4.5quarts.

sorry just curious and just wanna make sure

LaFlare wrote:

oh geeze i thought i was trippin,

Well Golly,
As far as the Quantity of oil your putting in after an oil change your OK.
4.75 -5.0 quarts with the larger filter is good.

The fact that you have an oil level LOW light on is a level switch issue and for what they cost just remove it and replace with new and more than likely your problem will go away. Period.