1st timer

My wife just called me and told me that the red oil light is flashing while she was driving. She went where she had to go and when she restarted the car the light was not flashing anymore!! Is there any engine damage at this point?
Low oil level may be the culprit!!!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

low oil.

check the level. add oil.

01tl4tl

there is no good reason the TL would use enough oil in normal service to cause the light to activate
meaning something is wrong with the sensor or there is a major oil leak

it wasnt the yellow Mait Req light?,,that will stay on when it reaches 7500 miles since last reset (after oil change)
the red light only means low pressure

do not operate until level ckd first!!

sidenote- a certain wife pulled off the freeway at midnite when the Mait Light came on once,,,got out and dutifully looked under the car and under the hood with a flashlight.
decided it wasnt anything she could find or fix... and drove home
(this is where I asked- why didnt you call?)
laughing while explaining the lights real meaning didnt go over well either~

1st timer

Well I had to add 2L of oil!!!! Will do a complete oil change on the weekend!!!!
I hope no damage was done to the engine!!!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

now, that you know that it runs low, you'll need to check it once in a while.

when was the last time you had an oil change?

mY sLOW UA6

How many miles did you have on the oil?

Edward'TLS

Even after the oil change, keep an eye on the oil level all the times.

There must be a leak somewhere to warrant losing 2L of oil in between oil changes.

01tl4tl

ck the pcv valve on top of rear valve cover- its hose leads to TB inlet hose
should shake/rattle like a can of spray paint--has a ball inside that must move freely

its clogging will force oil under pressure out of any available spot,,
even from the rear main engine seal!

1st timer

No leaks! The oil had about 10k miles!!!! I added new oil and the dipstick was black!!
Gonna have to do an oil change soon!!! My car is a00 and has 100k miles, should input 5w30 or oil for higher mileage cars? Btw I always use Mobil 1 syn with syn filters.

totaledTL

10k miles!? Is it synthetic? If not that's too betw. changes.
Do you chk. the level at least monthly?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you need to check the fluid at least once a month.
you can use what ever oil, you please.

synthetic and dino(conventional oil) do the same thing;helps clean and lubricate.

10k miles is a bit long, you should change 6-8k miles.

1st timer

Like I said, I use Mobil1 synthetic oil! I usually check oil levels on reg basis but lately it was the last thing on my mind!!! I've hAd the car for 9 years and it's the first time I went this long without checking. Never again!!!!

fsttyms1

Syn is far superior to dino. Especially in extended run intervals. I typically go 15k interval with a filter change around 7500. Never add more than 1 quart the whole time (including what is lost with the filter change)

01tl4tl

Im still going with clogged pcv forcing a leak
OP didnt report compression issues or other running probs

10kmiles on M1- with a filter change midway as suggested by kris- is fine
He did that for 200kmiles on his 00 and pulled the engine apart for inspection
(during swap to cl-s engine and 6 speed trans) the cylinder bores still had honing marks- as if barely broken in at those miles! could have easily gone another 200 on it!

Edward'TLS

Agree. Synthetic oils can withstand a longer change interval, but the oil filter can't. The oil filter will still need to be changed every 6-8K miles.

Insti Gator

Hmm.. Now that's an interesting assumption.. What brought you to this absurd conclusion?!

01tl4tl

now now gator-- you get one freebie and that was it
please feel free to contribute usefull info to a thread
general comments or sarcasm --without any other good info,,
is not cool, per the rules and the Moderators attitude~

1st timer

It is not the only reason for the light to go on...go fly a kite!!!

smartypants

My 99 uses about a quart/liter every 4 ~ months. I don't leak oil so it must be going out the tail pipe. Also, I've never noticed any blue smoke and so like you, I've always wondered where is goes.

In any case, I've accidental run mine down to when I accelerated from a light the oil light would flicker, with no ill effects. You just have to remember to check every so often.

sammy95

I've run low a few times on another car, to where it was flickering. Anytime flickering or the oil light comes on is too late.
Anytime you loose oil pressure you introduce air and oil. Air is not a very good lubricant, from my memory, you could start scoring the cylinder, or bearings, so do not run out of oil.
FREQUENTLY CHECK engine oil level and condition.