Low oil pressure
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 2
From: Walnut CA
Low oil pressure
Hi all, hope that someone knows a little bit about this...
A couple weeks ago, I got a low oil warning (this came after the car had been parked on a down hill for about 4 hours) and so I added a quart and it was gone--I was disappointed to be burning oil but I guess I'd been pushing the car bit (I'm figuring I should be able to push a Vette!)
Anyways, I got in the car yesterday and I get a "low oil pressure" warning and I'm like uh-oh... maybe I got a leak... So I've looked around the car and there is no leak and checked the oil level and its perfect.
I was far from home when I first got the low oil pressure indication and decided to start driving a little and the oil pressure monitor picked right up and the within 30 seconds I was within normal range so I thought that this was a ghost message like the (low battery voltage) message I got once and then never again but the low oil pressure message came back. And it has the 3-4 times I've started the car after that but it goes away right after I drive for a minute...
Does this sound like a sensor?
A couple weeks ago, I got a low oil warning (this came after the car had been parked on a down hill for about 4 hours) and so I added a quart and it was gone--I was disappointed to be burning oil but I guess I'd been pushing the car bit (I'm figuring I should be able to push a Vette!)
Anyways, I got in the car yesterday and I get a "low oil pressure" warning and I'm like uh-oh... maybe I got a leak... So I've looked around the car and there is no leak and checked the oil level and its perfect.
I was far from home when I first got the low oil pressure indication and decided to start driving a little and the oil pressure monitor picked right up and the within 30 seconds I was within normal range so I thought that this was a ghost message like the (low battery voltage) message I got once and then never again but the low oil pressure message came back. And it has the 3-4 times I've started the car after that but it goes away right after I drive for a minute...
Does this sound like a sensor?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
You may not have been low on oil... the fact that you mentioned the fact the you parked on a hill for 4 hrs,, means you thought this could be a problem.. and you're right... adding a qt to a full crank case could be a problem.. but with a C5 there is enough room to be able to add a quart without the fear of bearing wash..
next time check your oil level on level ground and if the stick shows a full crankcase.. then ignore the low oil warning, because the oil sensor was tricked buy the parking angle.
next time check your oil level on level ground and if the stick shows a full crankcase.. then ignore the low oil warning, because the oil sensor was tricked buy the parking angle.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,372
Likes: 1,003
From: Various places in Southern California.
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like a sensor problem to me. Have you tried setting the DIC to display the oil pressure? What number does it show? Does the oil pressure rise with rpms?
This could be a sensor, or it could be a major problem. Be careful and if there is any doubt, have it towed in for a checkup.
This could be a sensor, or it could be a major problem. Be careful and if there is any doubt, have it towed in for a checkup.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by Duck916
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like a sensor problem to me. Have you tried setting the DIC to display the oil pressure? What number does it show? Does the oil pressure rise with rpms?
This could be a sensor, or it could be a major problem. Be careful and if there is any doubt, have it towed in for a checkup.
This could be a sensor, or it could be a major problem. Be careful and if there is any doubt, have it towed in for a checkup.
if their is oil on the stick , there is no major problem... just a parking glitch in the way the oil level sensor works.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 2
From: Walnut CA
Thanks for all of your posts. I thought the low oil indication could be because of the way I was parked and so I waited for a bit and drove fot a little while but the indicator did not go away so I added a quart and that indicator didn't come on again. I checked the oil today and it was perfect right at the upper end of the full line.
The low oil pressure indicator has been going off the last 3 days right when I start so I just revved the engine a little and then start to go and then the oil pressure gauge all of a sudden seems like it turns on and I'm within range. Then I see the oil pressure fall within range and go up and down as the RPMs go up and down. Everything seems fine, the car drives just like normal... And the low oil pressure indication clears itself??? Interestingly enough, my miles per gallon reset itself??? Could it be the computer?
The low oil pressure indicator has been going off the last 3 days right when I start so I just revved the engine a little and then start to go and then the oil pressure gauge all of a sudden seems like it turns on and I'm within range. Then I see the oil pressure fall within range and go up and down as the RPMs go up and down. Everything seems fine, the car drives just like normal... And the low oil pressure indication clears itself??? Interestingly enough, my miles per gallon reset itself??? Could it be the computer?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,372
Likes: 1,003
From: Various places in Southern California.
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Read his post !!! he is not talking about oil pressure.. he is talking about oil level two different things .... two different sensors...
if their is oil on the stick , there is no major problem... just a parking glitch in the way the oil level sensor works.
if their is oil on the stick , there is no major problem... just a parking glitch in the way the oil level sensor works.
As for this issue, it could be just a sensor, but it could also be a sticking pressure relief valve. If there is a problem with low oil pressure it is very serious. I'd test it with a verified gauge hooked up.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Member - Medford, OR
NW Events Coordinator
I had the same problem while on a trip. The low oil pressure message came on when started, then disapeared in 10 seconds or so. The oil pressure gauge would slowly pick up to normal pressure and maintain normal pressure.
My Corvette is a 2000 Coupe, and I was informed by my dealership the oil pump was faulty. It was later confirmed to me that the factory had a run of faulty pumps causing this problem to occur.
You may want to check with your dealer to see if that is the problem and determine if a free fix is available... In any case, you should definitely get it checked out right away.
Terry
My Corvette is a 2000 Coupe, and I was informed by my dealership the oil pump was faulty. It was later confirmed to me that the factory had a run of faulty pumps causing this problem to occur.
You may want to check with your dealer to see if that is the problem and determine if a free fix is available... In any case, you should definitely get it checked out right away.
Terry
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,060
Likes: 3
From: Dublin CA
Here's a thought. The low oil level may not have been true, then you bring the oil overfull.
When the oil is overfull, the crank 'froths' the oil full of air bubbles. The oil pump sucks in oil with bubbles and pressure drops.
Double-check the oil level, you may have overfilled it. Also push the dipstick down hard, the tube may have slipped up out of it's hole in the block, and may be adding to the problem.
When the oil is overfull, the crank 'froths' the oil full of air bubbles. The oil pump sucks in oil with bubbles and pressure drops.
Double-check the oil level, you may have overfilled it. Also push the dipstick down hard, the tube may have slipped up out of it's hole in the block, and may be adding to the problem.
Last edited by blu00rdstr; Aug 5, 2004 at 04:03 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 1
From: Union KY
Paras:
If the DIC says "low oil pressure" at start up and you don't live in Antartica, there's a problem.
The DIC oil pressure warning has a built in delay so that it doesn't come on immediately at start up (when there's never any pressure).
If it comes on after start up, the pressure is not building up quickly enough. Your problem could be anything from a stuck pressure by pass valve in the oil filter base to a oil pump problem.
Regardless, if every time you start up cold, the DIC warns of low pressure, you are eating the engine's bearings. Go get it fixed like NOW.
Cire
If the DIC says "low oil pressure" at start up and you don't live in Antartica, there's a problem.
The DIC oil pressure warning has a built in delay so that it doesn't come on immediately at start up (when there's never any pressure).
If it comes on after start up, the pressure is not building up quickly enough. Your problem could be anything from a stuck pressure by pass valve in the oil filter base to a oil pump problem.
Regardless, if every time you start up cold, the DIC warns of low pressure, you are eating the engine's bearings. Go get it fixed like NOW.
Cire
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 1
From: Union KY
Paras:
Great. I wouldn't wait very long, Thirty seconds without oil pressure is a very long time. Think of the oil advertisemant that references the damaging effect of starting an engine. It's all about the fact that at start up, there isn't any pressure - but that's normally only a second or less. Good luck.
Cire
Great. I wouldn't wait very long, Thirty seconds without oil pressure is a very long time. Think of the oil advertisemant that references the damaging effect of starting an engine. It's all about the fact that at start up, there isn't any pressure - but that's normally only a second or less. Good luck.
Cire
