97 cavalier oil light

[wn1998]

I have a 97 cavalier with the 2.2L. The car is high mileage with 217k and recently (yesterday) the oil light would come on at idle. Once the gas is pressed, the light goes off.

I got home, added 1/2 quart and the light was off for the rest of my ride home. I know it has been burning oil for some time. Typically I have to add a 1/2 quart every 1500 miles or so.

However, the light is back on today. Unfortunatley, the dip stick is very stained and I can't tell the oil level when I use it. It kinda looks like the oil is over full.

If in fact it is overfull would the oil light come on our could this just be a fauly sensor? It always dissapears when you give the car gas.

I was thinking about changing the oil tonight to make sure I have the correct of oil in the engine but this oil only has 1k on it.

 

[Jason2007]

It very well could be the sensor going bad.

 

[pbm]

It could also be your oil pump.

 

[Nayov]

Back in the day ('70s) it was considered not unusual to have the light on during hot idle. Not sure about today but it would freak me out if it came on.

 

[Colt45ws]

Have you tried cleaning the dipstick?

 

[bepperb]

It could be that the pump is worn, and not maintaining pressure. It could be that there is crud on the pressure sensor. It could overfilled and foaming, but I don't see this as likely to occur only at hot idle. It could be underfilled, but then I think you'd see it at more than hot idle.

First, you have to get the oil level close to correct. The fact that adding oil changed the symptoms makes me think you could be further off than you think. Next, you need to find that you're getting correct pressure, I think I would buy a new sensor.

For a duct tape/zip tie like fix, you might try 40 weight oil.

 

[rpn453]

Overfilling will not produce an oil pressure light.

Make sure you have enough oil in there. If you do, change the sensor to make sure that's okay. I did one on an MX-6 recently and it cost $4 for the part and wasn't too difficult to change despite an awkward location.

If that doesn't do it, it's time for 15w40.

 

[dishdude]

The rod bearings are wearing out and unable to maintain pressure. Just kick the weight up to 10w-40 and that should raise the pressure back up and take care of your light.

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
The rod bearings are wearing out and unable to maintain pressure. Just kick the weight up to 10w-40 and that should raise the pressure back up and take care of your light.


My thoughts exactly. Try either 5W-40 or 10W-40.

If you want to keep the fill you have, I'd drain some of the oil out, and put in something like STP or Lucas oil treatment.

 

[wn1998]

looks like I will be doing an oil change tonight guys! Thanks for the help!

 

[wn1998]

Update:

Last night I swapped out the oil (5w30) for 3 quarts of 10w40 and one quart of 20w50 to thicken it up a bit. I also checked the oil that came out and I had roughly 4 quarts so I think it is a worn oil pump. Anyway, I have put on two 15 mile drives and my oil light is not coming on at warm idle. How much longer should the thicker oil give me?

When my oil pump dies, I am not going to replace it due to the miles on the car and the cost of the repair. Will the car just stop in traffic or should I be able to limp it home when it does decide to go out?

 

[bepperb]

The oil pump will probably pump less and less over time, not quit abruptly like you are worried about. And if you're not seeing the oil light on the 40 weight, you should have a lot of time before you need to turn it in. I'd say years, not weeks. Eventually you'll see the same thing, where you're not getting enough pressure at hot idle even with the 40 weight oil, and you'll know you're that much closer to the end.

I'm a little worried about your very-cold starting with this 50 weight oil blend, keep that in mind this winter.

 

[addyguy]

I'd move to a 0W-40, 5W-40 or even 5W-50 for the cold part of winter - you want cold-cranking/pumping abilities in the oil.

You can probably run this mix for another month or two, depending on how cold it gets where you are.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
I'd move to a 0W-40, 5W-40 or even 5W-50 for the cold part of winter - you want cold-cranking/pumping abilities in the oil.

You can probably run this mix for another month or two, depending on how cold it gets where you are.



+1

 

[rpn453]

I assumed you didn't see any really cold weather when I recommended 15w40. How cold does it get there? I wouldn't use 15w40 below -10F.