Oil pressure light comes on only when car is stopped

[street heat]

the oil level is fine and I'm not due for an oil change for a couple thousand miles.


I'm at about 89k miles and the car is not driving any differently.

anyone else had this issue ? the light turns off when accelerating and in motion.

 

[JSolo]

The proper way to diag is to take an oil pressure reading at different rpms, including idle. Could just be a malfunctioning switch. Or you may have major issues.

 

[street heat]

The proper way to diag is to take an oil pressure reading at different rpms, including idle. Could just be a malfunctioning switch. Or you may have major issues.

how would I do that ?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Sounds like your oil pump might be failing, it would make sense that the light comes on at idle and goes away in higher rpm when you're moving. I think its time for a visit to a mechanic, if its your oil pump its not something you want to mess around with.

 

[bfglitch]

Had a similar issue in one of my previous vehicles. When slowed down to idle the oil pressure light would blink a bit, then go solid on, then go off when I accelerated. For that issue it turned out to be a failing oil pressure sending unit. Hopefully it's something similar, but you should bring it somewhere to get checked to make sure it's not something more severe.

 

[JSolo]

how would I do that ?

If you have to ask, take it to a knowledgeable mechanic or dealer.

As mentioned, this is not something you want to mess around with. Low oil pressure will destroy your engine.

 

[CraigS]

Generally that's a symptom of worn rings from someone running it low on oil, but then it would be burning a lot of oil and you'd have white smoke from tailpipe. Bad oil pump is also possible, but in a newer car like yours a faulty pressure sensor seems much more likely. Get it in asap and don't let it sit and idle for extended periods .

 

[JSolo]

^^Huh? White smoke from tail pipe is usually an indicator of coolant getting into the combustion chamber. Oil burning is bluish in color. Agreed on the sensor malfunction possibility.

 

[D.J.]

Generally that's a symptom of worn rings from someone running it low on oil.

Worn rings are not a cause of low oil pressure.

 

[CraigS]

Worn rings are not a cause of low oil pressure.

Really? I assumed the pressure was leaking that direction based on an old car we once had with exactly the same symptom. Where does the pressure go when old engines do this? I remember the explanation at the time being oil leaking past something thereby reducing the pressure.

 

[D.J.]

Really? I assumed the pressure was leaking that direction based on an old car we once had with exactly the same symptom. Where does the pressure go when old engines do this? I remember the explanation at the time being oil leaking past something thereby reducing the pressure.

Not rings....

Main bearings, rod bearings, cam shaft hydrodynamic surfaces...
Balance shaft bearings
Anywhere where pressurized oil is resisted.

Piston rings do not maintain oil pressure


This is for the 4cyl. But same principle applies to the 6cyl.

Shows the pressurized oil path.

http://www.kstinger.com/engine_oil-401.html

 

[JSolo]

If your rings are worn you get excessive blow by from the crankcase. Oil pressure should still be within spec. Higher oil consumption though.

Aside from what's been mentioned about oil pump, low pressures can also result from excessive bearing wear. It's the tolerances between the bearing surfaces that creates the pressure. There could be a gasket that's leaking internally. That is, oil is not leaning outside of the engine but internally to some other region that the gasket normally seals.

Look up g37 vq37 oil galley failure -

.

 

[CraigS]

If your rings are worn you get excessive blow by from the crankcase. Oil pressure should still be within spec. Higher oil consumption though.

Aside from what's been mentioned about oil pump, low pressures can also result from excessive bearing wear. It's the tolerances between the bearing surfaces that creates the pressure. There could be a gasket that's leaking internally. That is, oil is not leaning outside of the engine but internally to some other region that the gasket normally seals.

Look up g37 vq37 oil galley failure -

.

Got it. Thanks very much for the explanation. That makes perfect sense. Still a result of engine wear, I just had the wrong part in my head. Appreciate your setting me straight

 

[street heat]

so the dealer wants $3200 to fix it. they said the sending unit and a some gasket that are hard to get to are leaking some oil and it would take 12 hours of labor to fix. i know thats bullshit same dealer told me it would take all day to replace the sunroof motors and i took it to a sunroof repair shop instead and they did it in one hour.

should i try another dealership ?

 

[D.J.]

so the dealer wants $3200 to fix it. they said the sending unit and a some gasket that are hard to get to are leaking some oil and it would take 12 hours of labor to fix. i know thats bullshit same dealer told me it would take all day to replace the sunroof motors and i took it to a sunroof repair shop instead and they did it in one hour.

should i try another dealership ?

I would say, no.

What you need is a good honest mechanic, not a dealership .

 

[NS_Stinger]

Sweet jesus that's expensive. At minimum you need a second opinion.

 

[D.J.]

Are you using the correct size oil filter?

Sounds crazy, I know, but have you read this?

3.3TT - Low Oil Pressure

Seeing if anyone has had any experience with this before I take it to the dealer. Oil pressure light comes on while idling, under 800 RPM it will come on and go off once I go over 800 RPM. No CEL, oil is at Full mark on stick, oil changed 2k miles ago with 5w-30, at 61k miles.

stingerforum.org

 

[street heat]

Are you using the correct size oil filter?

Sounds crazy, I know, but have you read this?

3.3TT - Low Oil Pressure

Seeing if anyone has had any experience with this before I take it to the dealer. Oil pressure light comes on while idling, under 800 RPM it will come on and go off once I go over 800 RPM. No CEL, oil is at Full mark on stick, oil changed 2k miles ago with 5w-30, at 61k miles.

stingerforum.org

I would assume so since I only get my oil changes at the dealer.

 

[street heat]

just went to a recommended mechanic and showed him the dealer estimate and he laughed

 

[bfglitch]

just went to a recommended mechanic and showed him the dealer estimate and he laughed

Not surprised. 12 hours of labor to replace an oil pressure sending unit + the gasket sounds like the biggest load of BS I've ever heard.