Low oil level message (?)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Low oil level message (?)
Riding along 10 min after starting car, engine warm, oil pressure 40, no noises and running fine, I get a DIC message "Low Oil Level". Stopped and checked oil level on dipstick and it's fine. Reset and got rid of the message and it comes back on 5 min later, again oil pressure 40 at 55mph, 35 at warm idle, reset again and got rid of warning message.
Got home, rechecked oil level again w/ dipstick and is OK. Checked it again 3 hrs. later with engine cooled off and it's still in the normal level on the stick. No leaks under the car and not burning any oil. So what is that all about? Do oil pressure level sensors fail intermittently and where is that kind of thing located? Is there anyway to check it, or do you just replace it?
I started the car up again and let it run 10 min sitting in the driveway and no message came back on the DIC. So now, just for the helluvit, do I have to carry around a quart of oil with me?
My last oil change was 2200 miles ago, I did it myself, the old oil came out clean so I don't think there's any crud in my oil pan and the car was parked on a level before I originally drove off and then the message came on.
Got home, rechecked oil level again w/ dipstick and is OK. Checked it again 3 hrs. later with engine cooled off and it's still in the normal level on the stick. No leaks under the car and not burning any oil. So what is that all about? Do oil pressure level sensors fail intermittently and where is that kind of thing located? Is there anyway to check it, or do you just replace it?
I started the car up again and let it run 10 min sitting in the driveway and no message came back on the DIC. So now, just for the helluvit, do I have to carry around a quart of oil with me?
My last oil change was 2200 miles ago, I did it myself, the old oil came out clean so I don't think there's any crud in my oil pan and the car was parked on a level before I originally drove off and then the message came on.
Last edited by mrlmd; Jun 1, 2015 at 05:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
6.5 qts., level is not wrong. Car is stock. I've had this car for almost 2 years and 10,000 miles and this just happened.
I understand how this can happen when the car is parked on an incline for a while, but the car has always been level.
What I am asking is, do these sensors ever fail intermittently, and is there any way to check them other than by replacing them if this is a recurring problem getting that message on the DIC? How common is a failed oil level sensor? Another PIA but not that expensive.
If I have to replace this, I will wait 'till my next oil change in another 4-5000miles, whenever the DIC lets me know my oil life is down to 10% or less.
I understand how this can happen when the car is parked on an incline for a while, but the car has always been level.
What I am asking is, do these sensors ever fail intermittently, and is there any way to check them other than by replacing them if this is a recurring problem getting that message on the DIC? How common is a failed oil level sensor? Another PIA but not that expensive.
If I have to replace this, I will wait 'till my next oil change in another 4-5000miles, whenever the DIC lets me know my oil life is down to 10% or less.
Last edited by mrlmd; Aug 23, 2015 at 03:31 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 75
From: Medford, Oregon
My 99' FRC does the same thing, 1/2 qt. above dipstick full level works most of the time. In my opinion it's the sensor that is getting finicky in it's old age. Either replace the sensor and change oil at the same time or just check that oil level periodically. Good luck !!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,340
Likes: 24,781
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If the oil level on the dipstick is OK as you say, you could have an oil level sensor going bad. Might want to check it out and replace it if needed.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 666
Likes: 30
From: Milwaukee WI
There is a sensor for oil level which has nothing to do with oil pressure or anything else. As was stated, it is most likely that the wires for it, or the sensor itself are wonky and need to be repaired/replaced. It isn't an unheard of failure.
Not many cars have a system like this, so in reality it could be ignored with no real consequence. As long as you check your oil once in a while, with our large sumps it's pretty unlikely to leak or burn enough oil to not notice it before the oil level is down enough to cause any motor issues.
Not many cars have a system like this, so in reality it could be ignored with no real consequence. As long as you check your oil once in a while, with our large sumps it's pretty unlikely to leak or burn enough oil to not notice it before the oil level is down enough to cause any motor issues.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 555
Likes: 5
From: Boulder City NV
Riding along 10 min after starting car, engine warm, oil pressure 40, no noises and running fine, I get a DIC message "Low Oil Level". Stopped and checked oil level on dipstick and it's fine. Reset and got rid of the message and it comes back on 5 min later, again oil pressure 40 at 55mph, 35 at warm idle, reset again and got rid of warning message.
Got home, rechecked oil level again w/ dipstick and is OK. Checked it again 3 hrs. later with engine cooled off and it's still in the normal level on the stick. No leaks under the car and not burning any oil. So what is that all about? Do oil pressure level sensors fail intermittently and where is that kind of thing located? Is there anyway to check it, or do you just replace it?
I started the car up again and let it run 10 min sitting in the driveway and no message came back on the DIC. So now, just for the helluvit, do I have to carry around a quart of oil with me?
My last oil change was 2200 miles ago, I did it myself, the old oil came out clean so I don't think there's any crud in my oil pan and the car was parked on a level before I originally drove off and then the message came on.
Got home, rechecked oil level again w/ dipstick and is OK. Checked it again 3 hrs. later with engine cooled off and it's still in the normal level on the stick. No leaks under the car and not burning any oil. So what is that all about? Do oil pressure level sensors fail intermittently and where is that kind of thing located? Is there anyway to check it, or do you just replace it?
I started the car up again and let it run 10 min sitting in the driveway and no message came back on the DIC. So now, just for the helluvit, do I have to carry around a quart of oil with me?
My last oil change was 2200 miles ago, I did it myself, the old oil came out clean so I don't think there's any crud in my oil pan and the car was parked on a level before I originally drove off and then the message came on.
My 99 does the same thing. I replaced the sensor and it still does it. I'm guessing I have a pinched or burnt wire to the sensor (behind the header on the passenger side...)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
How could my oil pump have failed when my oil pressure is totally normal? The oil pump has nothing to do with the low oil LEVEL message. It has to do with oil PRESSURE. And my wires are not burnt, and stock means stock, that means no headers or anything else other than what was on it from the factory.
No one has been able to answer my question if it is possible to check this thing, but Vetteman says I might want to check it out and replace it if needed. Thanks for the suggestion, now somebody tell me how to check it out. Is there any electrical measurement you can do - resistance or continuity, or anything, other than just pulling it out and replacing with a new one and hope that works? You can find these on the auction site for anywhere from $10 to $22 so it's not an expensive repair, just a PIA, to be done after you empty out your oil for a routine change.
BTW, today on (2) 50 mile rides back and forth, no warning about low oil level came on.
No one has been able to answer my question if it is possible to check this thing, but Vetteman says I might want to check it out and replace it if needed. Thanks for the suggestion, now somebody tell me how to check it out. Is there any electrical measurement you can do - resistance or continuity, or anything, other than just pulling it out and replacing with a new one and hope that works? You can find these on the auction site for anywhere from $10 to $22 so it's not an expensive repair, just a PIA, to be done after you empty out your oil for a routine change.
BTW, today on (2) 50 mile rides back and forth, no warning about low oil level came on.
Last edited by mrlmd; Jun 2, 2015 at 02:14 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
1999 corvette
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,613
Likes: 4,061
From: Cape Coral, Florida
Welcome to the Forum !!...this is a 7 year old thread BTW...are you having issues with your oil level sensor ??....what do you mean by "mine is doing the same thing his is" ??...what is what doing ??...if you are having issues just post a NEW thread in the Tech section...you will get more help this way...also include in your profile model year, mods, tune etc...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,321
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Depending on the year of your car, installing headers may have required installing a different oil dipstick tube. This could account for why the dipstick says the level is good, but it might not be. The other thing that headers do, is generate a ton of heat. It is possible that heat melted the wire that attaches to the oil level sensor.