My low oil light has come on all of a sudden and I can't figure out why. It is full of oil. Any ideas???? Thanks guys.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> My low oil light has come on all of a sudden and I can't figure out why. It is full of oil. Any ideas???? Thanks guys.</TD></TR></TABLE>
first DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR

second, make sure the oil pressure sender is connected.

if its connected, check for continuity between the sender and the dash wire. if that checks out you might want to try and get someone who can test oil pressure.

 

Thanks for the warning about not driving it. I'll check to make sure it is connected and may just replace it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the warning about not driving it. I'll check to make sure it is connected and may just replace it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

if its not connected the light wont be on. when i disconnect mine and turn the key to the on position then start it the light never comes on....when its connected it comes on when the keys in the on position but goes off when i start the car. chances are your oil pump just blew up.


Modified by civicflnum1 at 9:35 PM 12/7/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicflnum1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
chances are your oil pump just blew up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Changed the sender and the light is still coming on. At first it was on immediately when I started it. Then it flickered and now it is out but only when I drive it in a straight line. When I make a turn it comes on and then goes out when I straighten it back up. It is full of oil with a quart of Lucus Oil Treatment in it. I plan to borrow an oil pressure guage to read the oil pressure. Any ideas on what else it might be? I shook the wire and the harnesses and didn't get anything. Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kamin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">first DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR</TD></TR></TABLE>
Remove your oil pan. Maybe something's wrong with your pick-up??

 

i bet the pick up is loose or clogged

 

BUMMER!! I've never pulled an oil pan. I just installed the engine for the first time and was shocked the damn thing started! Is it difficult to do?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Remove your oil pan. Maybe something's wrong with your pick-up??
</TD></TR></TABLE>

True statement, also check the wires going to the sender. maybe your grounding out.

 

I kinda thought that and shook all of them and nothing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BUMMER!! I've never pulled an oil pan. I just installed the engine for the first time and was shocked the damn thing started! Is it difficult to do? </TD></TR></TABLE>I bet it's easier than installing an engine...

What car/engine exactly??
Get a new pan gasket, lay it out flat so it relaxes to its proper shape.
Drain the oil.
Take off the exhaust A-pipe which goes under the pan.
Some engines have braces from the bellhousing to the bottom of the block - take 'em off.
Take off the dust cover over the bottom of the flywheel.
Remove all the bolts/nuts around the pan. Maybe it'll fall off, maybe you have to knock it loose with your fist.

Some people use a really thin smear of HondaBond, sometimes just in the corners, sometimes nothing, but definitely NOT enough to lubricate the gasket & allow it to squirm around.

DON'T overtighten the pan bolts/nuts. That'll make the gasket squash, squirm, & leak.

 

listen dude either your pickup is clogged or the pump is done. same thing happen to me when my pump was on its way out....i still drove it and the gear blew the **** up. just drop the pan check the pick up.....if its fine pull the front cover and check the pump. BTW remember to replace the gasket between the pump and pickup

 

Well that sux! I guess if I changed the engine and it started and didn't fall on the ground, I can drop the pan. I FINALLY found a guage so I can check the pressure tonight. I hope it's over 10 so I can find the short!!!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well that sux! I guess if I changed the engine and it started and didn't fall on the ground, I can drop the pan. I FINALLY found a guage so I can check the pressure tonight. I hope it's over 10 so I can find the short!!!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

your in denile dude its not a damn short. stop being lazy and pull the pan. all you do is pull bolts out and pull the pan off. its not hard.

 

Dude, I think you're prolly right! After JUST replacing the engine I really didn't want to have to crawl back under the biatch! But.....here we go! CHARGE!!!! Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dude, I think you're prolly right! After JUST replacing the engine I really didn't want to have to crawl back under the biatch! But.....here we go! CHARGE!!!! Thanks. </TD></TR></TABLE>I know what you mean. But dropping the pan is WAY easier than putting in another engine after oil-starvation kills this one.

When you get the pan off, wiggle the oil pickup. Maybe when you turn corners, it moves to one side & sucks air in somewhere? Maybe there's a gasket or O-ring where the pickup connect to... wherever it goes.

Any chance that the pan or the oil pickup don't match each other? Maybe the pan's too deep & the pickup doesn't go all the way to the bottom??

 

I hooked the guage up and it read nothing at first until I revved it just a little. Then it read right at 10. I revved it up and the pressure started dropping so I let off and let it idle. Back to 10. As it warmed up, the pressure started to rise. It was on the rise and got all the way to 30 at idle. I was waiting for the fans to come on as a service manual said to read it after the fans cycle twice. Then it said that the pressure is supposed to be 10 at idle and 30 at 3000 rpms. It got to 30 at idle! There was some kind of smoke coming out of the catback and I assume it is because it is cold here in Western North Carolina and I hope it is just that kind of smoke that comes out when its cold. You know that kind? Well then I heard a blub blub kind of sound start coming out of the cat back so I turned it off. Any ideas or opinions? Thanks alot guys! Don

 

since you're too lazy to pull the pan, try to at least pull the valve cover and see if the head is getting oil.

 

Damn dude you got my number big time! It's not that I'm too lazy just don't want to go thru the hassle if someone has a better idea first. I am resigning myself to crawling under her and dropping her drawers and looking inside.

 

Here's one last idea. Since the light doesn't work when it's disconnected, try disconnecting it and seeing if it turns on. Just turn on the ignition. No light? Drop the pan.

A guy I know had a problem with his '96 accord. His light would flicker on and off and VTEC was erratic. The car ran very poorly. This guy was super lazy....rather than listen to me and know that the oil pump was bad (my diagnosis) he had a new head gasket installed and then some. A few months later, he had to have his car towed home because the cam welded itself to the head...causing the cam sprocket to snap off. I have pictures!

So anyway, You're oil pressure is erratic or nonexistent. It's the pump or the pick-up. If the pick-up is attached properly, and not clogged, it's the pump.

-Alex

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I hooked the guage up and it read nothing at first until I revved it just a little. Then it read right at 10. I revved it up and the pressure started dropping so I let off and let it idle. Back to 10. As it warmed up, the pressure started to rise. It was on the rise and got all the way to 30 at idle. I was waiting for the fans to come on as a service manual said to read it after the fans cycle twice. Then it said that the pressure is supposed to be 10 at idle and 30 at 3000 rpms. It got to 30 at idle! There was some kind of smoke coming out of the catback and I assume it is because it is cold here in Western North Carolina and I hope it is just that kind of smoke that comes out when its cold. You know that kind? Well then I heard a blub blub kind of sound start coming out of the cat back so I turned it off. Any ideas or opinions? Thanks alot guys! Don</TD></TR></TABLE>

i give up....we say dont turn the car on your out there revving it. bro...good luck finding out what it is cause no matte how many times my self and other countless people tell you what it is since we have delt with this before you dont listen. so...good luck to you

 

Point well taken dude. The pan is coming off. Hope I find something on the screen or something simple like that. Pardon my sense of uncertainty along the way. I was just hoping someone would stumble upon by desperation and tell me it was someting that didn't require the extra work of dropping the pan. I have little to no experience going into the guts of an engine hence the lack of confidence. She's coming off this weekend prolly.

 

that's like where i've been trying to figure out my low oil pressure problem. i was told to check the oil pickup. didn't feel like it but i did this past weekend. now, i know my problem.

fyi.. if it is your oil pump, it's better to find out now before any more damage may occur.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I was just hoping someone would stumble upon by desperation and tell me it was someting that didn't require the extra work of dropping the pan. I have little to no experience going into the guts of an engine hence the lack of confidence. She's coming off this weekend prolly.</TD></TR></TABLE>There's no substitute for a firsthand LOOK at the oil pickup. There's different possibilities, but you HAVE TO LOOK.