Low Oil Pressure Warning
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
Low Oil Pressure Warning
I got two low oil pressure warning’s about 1-2 second in duration before it disappeared immediately both times. I am at 20% oil left currently. I started the engine and when it was warm, I checked the oil level and there was nothing on the dipstick. Is that normal for oil levels at 20%? I have an appt with my local Chevy dealer tomorrow but will put a quart of oil in the engine before I take it tomorrow. Unless the Forum suggests I should be fine without adding a quart. Thanks for your responses!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 1,114
From: Western Mass
I got two low oil pressure warning’s about 1-2 second in duration before it disappeared immediately both times. I am at 20% oil left currently. I started the engine and when it was warm, I checked the oil level and there was nothing on the dipstick. Is that normal for oil levels at 20%? I have an appt with my local Chevy dealer tomorrow but will put a quart of oil in the engine before I take it tomorrow. Unless the Forum suggests I should be fine without adding a quart. Thanks for your responses!
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 2,871
From: Charlotte N.C.
20% is not your engine oil level, it’s you engine life which is totally different. Don’t start your car until it has the proper level. Also, why are you low on oil? Did it just get changed, is there a leak?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
I go roughly 6,000 miles religiously before changing the oil. I’m at 5,600 miles and roughly 5 months since my last oil change. I have 72,000 miles on my 2021 vette so I’ve been doing this for awhile. No oil on garage floor so I don’t have a leak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 1,114
From: Western Mass
Well it’s going somewhere…. I’d top off and check it every fill up to track consumption. Something seems amiss
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 1,114
From: Western Mass
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 1,183
From: Early 2020 Z51 Coupe, Original Owner, Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
In 5 months have you checked your oil since your last change? If yes you have, dropping 1 1/2 quarts in the last 1000 miles doesn't add up.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
You may have been mistakenly underfilled on your last oil change. With 72K on your MY 2021 thinking your would know if your burning oil.
In 5 months have you checked your oil since your last change? If yes you have, dropping 1 1/2 quarts in the last 1000 miles doesn't add up.
In 5 months have you checked your oil since your last change? If yes you have, dropping 1 1/2 quarts in the last 1000 miles doesn't add up.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,371
Likes: 8,527
I have a rough guess. You said you saw the low oil pressure light come on. The primary means of lubrication is the oil that is pumped out of the tank into the engine lines. The oil pan (or sump) is described as a dry sump and holds very little oil. When the engine is off, oil will slowly seem into the pan, but when running the oil that lubricates the engine runs down to the pan where it is quickly scavenged and returned to the oil tank. The point is, the majority of the oil in the tank when the engine is running. And the capacity is something like 7-8 quarts - I think most in the tank. If you saw a low oil pressure light, that means that the tank was drained so much that it sucked air - and the oil is pumped from the bottom. So my guess is a lot of oil is missing. Wow. I hope I am wrong.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
I have a rough guess. You said you saw the low oil pressure light come on. The primary means of lubrication is the oil that is pumped out of the tank into the engine lines. The oil pan (or sump) is described as a dry sump and holds very little oil. When the engine is off, oil will slowly seem into the pan, but when running the oil that lubricates the engine runs down to the pan where it is quickly scavenged and returned to the oil tank. The point is, the majority of the oil in the tank when the engine is running. And the capacity is something like 7-8 quarts - I think most in the tank. If you saw a low oil pressure light, that means that the tank was drained so much that it sucked air - and the oil is pumped from the bottom. So my guess is a lot of oil is missing. Wow. I hope I am wrong.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 262
Likes: 223
From: Huntsville, Alabama
I would suggest not going more than 1500 miles before checking the oil level. It’s a good habit. This is after the 1st 1500 miles, before that it is suggested that you check the oil every fill up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
ttt
I wish I was a grease monkey but I’m the opposite. I am adding a quart of oil shortly when the engine is cold, then idling until the temp is 175 and checking the dipstick. If nothing is on the stick, I’ll put another quart in tomorrow morning and check again before I drive it to my service appt. That’s all I can do right now I think.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,371
Likes: 8,527
I wish I was a grease monkey but I’m the opposite. I am adding a quart of oil shortly when the engine is cold, then idling until the temp is 175 and checking the dipstick. If nothing is on the stick, I’ll put another quart in tomorrow morning and check again before I drive it to my service appt. That’s all I can do right now I think.
If its so low that you got a low pressure warning, I would not want to be running it much until it was filled properly. I suppose its safe since you have oil pressure most of the time. But you may have other issues - like - what happened to all that oil.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 262
Likes: 223
From: Huntsville, Alabama
If you only saw the light for a few seconds like 5-10s you should be ok. You should fill it to the correct level before driving it to the shop to have the oil changed. After the oil change you should check the level to make sure the shop puts enough oil in the car, some shops may be a little stingy with the oil or didn't measure it correctly last time you had an oil change (at least halfway up the good area, I always put in 8 qtrs which brings it to the top line). Then you need to monitor you oil level after every fill up to see if that was just a fluke or you may have some issue causing excessive oil usage. With 72K miles it's possible that something is causing excessive oil usage. Oil lubricates and helps cool the motor being jus 1 qtr low may not hurt the luberacation but it does reduce the cooling capability.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 483
Likes: 416
From: Old Dominion
I'd be checking the oil level with the dipstick more frequently.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 1,183
From: Early 2020 Z51 Coupe, Original Owner, Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
I wish I was a grease monkey but I’m the opposite. I am adding a quart of oil shortly when the engine is cold, then idling until the temp is 175 and checking the dipstick. If nothing is on the stick, I’ll put another quart in tomorrow morning and check again before I drive it to my service appt. That’s all I can do right now I think.
Might be good of you to update all who responded to your dilemma.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 45
Likes: 26
From: Georgia
Here is the end result of my plight. I ended up putting 4 quarts of oil in the engine to ensure I would get to the local Chevy dealer without issue. The dipstick still did not show oil but I knew I had enough to get to the service appointment. When the car was serviced and I got it back, the mechanic showed me how to check the oil. When he did, the oil was at the proper place on the dipstick. What he did tell me which was different from what I was doing was to get the engine temp up to 175, then shut the car off for 5 minutes, then check the oil. I was checking the oil while the car was running on idle. My guess as to why I had an oil pressure warning flash for a few seconds was I was low on oil but not in danger of seizing the engine immediately. It should be noted I never got a “low oil” warning which I assume I should have gotten. Additionally, I can only guess that the previous oil change did not get the full 7.5 quarts of oil needed which is why I was low at 6,000 miles between changes. I just checked the oil yesterday and it registers full so I hopefully don’t have a leak. I will be checking the oil occasionally from now on. Thanks everyone for your advice and be well!
