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Hey all,
I have a 98 Chevy Cavalier with 161,000 miles on it. At low RPM such as when it is idling or turning, the oil light comes on. I didn’t have an oil pressure gauge so I couldn’t test the sending unit. I just replace it seeing as how it is so cheap. Didn’t help.
My conclusion is that the engine has worn enough that it no longer can maintain adequate oil pressure. I was thinking of putting a thicker oil in it and see if it fixes the problem. Thoughts?
I was also thinking of swapping out the main bearings, as these are a big contributor to oil pressure in an engine.
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[quote=”wysetech” post=70499]Putting a mechanical gauge on it is the best idea. The STP is only a bandaid and the increase in oil it allows pressure might give you a false reading unless you change the oil before testing.[/quote]
It’s just about due for an oil change. I’m going to wait because the sender is behind the oil filter and as you know, take that off and it’s going to puke oil so I’ll do it when I have new oil to put in it. this is a very intermittent problem. It’s only done this 3 times since I had my transmission replaced.
[quote=”B2k1977″ post=70500][quote=”wysetech” post=70499]Putting a mechanical gauge on it is the best idea. The STP is only a bandaid and the increase in oil it allows pressure might give you a false reading unless you change the oil before testing.[/quote]
It’s just about due for an oil change. I’m going to wait because the sender is behind the oil filter and as you know, take that off and it’s going to puke oil so I’ll do it when I have new oil to put in it. this is a very intermittent problem. It’s only done this 3 times since I had my transmission replaced.[/quote]
I’ll also add, a while back I had a 92 grand am, I had the timing chain replaced because it jumped a tooth and when I got the car back it was the very same thing, we didn’t hook a gauge up to it, but replaced the sending unit and it never came on again. Not sure if this is the same thing though.
Don’t rebuild the engine. You’re much better off replacing than rebuilding. Also, oil pumps don’t create oil pressure, the resistance to the output volume of the pump creates the pressure, and in the case of an engine it’s the clearances between the bearings that do that. Actually the first thing I would have suggested after reading your first post was checking the oil level. The problem you originally described could easily be caused by low oil. Good luck.
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