Oil Temp Low??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 347
Likes: 4
From: Woodstown NJ
Oil Temp Low??
Sometimes when I start my car when it is really cold outside the oil temperature will display (OIL TEMP: LOW) and not change for the duration of the trip. Is this a problem or just a glitch that I should not worry about?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Have you actually looked at the digital temperature indication of the oil while it was running after warmup? If it didn't warm up, I would first suggest replacing the sender. Past that, is the coolant temp warming up? If not, it could be a stuck thermostat staying all the way open therefore the oil never warms up afterall the coolant is there to keep the oil cool.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
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From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
This topic often gets posted about this time of year. It is a known "glitch" of the programming. Not a sensor problem or anything like that.
I found it seems to happen if you start the car cold when it is below about 15*. It will do exactly as you describe...oil temp display will only display "low" for that ignition cycle. If you restart the car once the oil is warm, the normal oil temp reading will resume.
Nothing to worry about. I know mine does it too, but I haven't run the car in that cold of temps in many years.
.
I found it seems to happen if you start the car cold when it is below about 15*. It will do exactly as you describe...oil temp display will only display "low" for that ignition cycle. If you restart the car once the oil is warm, the normal oil temp reading will resume.
Nothing to worry about. I know mine does it too, but I haven't run the car in that cold of temps in many years.
.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,465
Likes: 1,167
From: Dyer, IN
This topic often gets posted about this time of year. It is a known "glitch" of the programming. Not a sensor problem or anything like that.
I found it seems to happen if you start the car cold when it is below about 15*. It will do exactly as you describe...oil temp display will only display "low" for that ignition cycle. If you restart the car once the oil is warm, the normal oil temp reading will resume.
Nothing to worry about. I know mine does it too, but I haven't run the car in that cold of temps in many years.
.
I found it seems to happen if you start the car cold when it is below about 15*. It will do exactly as you describe...oil temp display will only display "low" for that ignition cycle. If you restart the car once the oil is warm, the normal oil temp reading will resume.
Nothing to worry about. I know mine does it too, but I haven't run the car in that cold of temps in many years.
.
The PCM gives a low oil temp message if it senses 14 degree F after 5 minutes of run time. While it's probably nothing, an open in the wiring or a open/defective sensor will make the PCM think the oil temp is 14 degrees F or lower all the time. To the OP, if there is a wiring or sensor issue, you should have an associated DIC code....B1542 if I remember correctly.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There was a TSB about that very subject a long while back. GM fixed the programming in later model C5s. Just can find or remember what years the programming issue effected or when they changed it. It happened in my 98 C5 all the time when it was TRUNDRA COLD out side!
Try the shut down-restart thing to see if its a programming issue or an electrical issue. If it up-dates upon restart, your golden and have nothing to worry about.
See if you can RESET the message by holding the DIC RESET button down until it clears the message.
BC
Try the shut down-restart thing to see if its a programming issue or an electrical issue. If it up-dates upon restart, your golden and have nothing to worry about.
See if you can RESET the message by holding the DIC RESET button down until it clears the message.
BC
