Calling all Mechanics

[Fishingtolive2]

I have a 2004 Chevy Colorado I5 engine with 103000 miles
I keep the truck in good shape, change oil every 3000 miles
Today the oil light and warning bell came on out of the blue. of course I pulled over and checked the oil level, it was fine, checked over the engine for leaks none found. Looked under vehicle for possible leaks none found. dove the truck to my destination the light went on and off a few times. the temperature gauge has never gone over a quarter of the way up the gauge. I just thought it was because I have been using Lucas oil treatment since day one. A friend told me that the thermostat must be bad because the gauge should always go up about have way for normal operating temperature. Running at lower temperature could have damaged the oil pump. Is this true or could there be something else causing the problem?
Note: I am changing the oil tomorrow and the thermostat and the oil sending unit. Anything else I might look for as a potential cure?

 

[Zenmervolt]

It could be as simple as the oil pressure sender going bad if your oil level was good.

As long as the temperature gauge is coming up to a stable position it's probably OK. Regardless, even running at a really low temp would not damage the oil pump.

I would leave the thermostat alone (unless you're already replacing the water pump as preventative maintenance and will be in there anyway) and just change the oil, filter, and pressure sending unit. Also, make sure you're using the correct viscosity of oil for your engine. The inline 5 in the Colorado takes 5w30.

ZV

 

[Fishingtolive2]

Thank you, I have always used 5w30 oil with Lucas additive. Every oil change

 

[phucheneh]

Your oil pressure sender is probably sticking because of that Lucas garbage...

 

[kitatech]

I have a 2004 Chevy Colorado I5 engine with 103000 miles
I keep the truck in good shape, change oil every 3000 miles

I have always used 5w30 oil with Lucas additive. Every oil change

As suggested already, it's the additive...totally unnecessary for 3k OCIs.

Changing oil every 3k miles is more than required for all driving other than for:
1. ...1-mile runs for smokes
2. ...OCI intervals longer than 1 year
3. ...peace of mind for those who don't realize that the chemistry of any brand name conventional 5w-30 oil in this century is so far superior than ANY dino oil of the last century

 

[Fishingtolive2]

Ok Guys Thank you so much for your input! After replacing the oil, filter and the oil sending unit the light went out and has not come on again. I believe that has cured it. I have how ever decided to replace the thermostat at a later date as it is a ah heck to replace and will probly take all day and part of the next. LOL
Thanks Again

 

[BUTCH1]

Your oil pressure sender is probably sticking because of that Lucas garbage...

LOL, one of my first cars was a '63 Galaxy straight 6, I used to put an additive called "motor honey" in it to raise some compression, the stuff is so thick it makes molasses look like water. I had to remove and clean the plugs every 3rd day or else they would foul, the compression was so weak I had to avoid some hilly areas of town because the engine just could not produce enough torque to climb them. My friends called it "the fogger" due to the enormous amount of smoke it spewed whenever it ran, thankfully I only drove it for 2 months before graduating to a '64 Dynamic 88..

 

[The Boston Dangler]

yeah, stay away from bottled additives. quality (mobil, shell, et cetera) gas and oil have well-developed additive packages already in them.