Oil light comes on when I break hard- Ideas?

[gotsmack]

My oil light comes on when I break moderately-hard. I don't have time to get it fixed until Friday but if its serious I'll leave early tomorrow. It just blinks on then off for half a second


any ideas?

thanks in advance.

 

[Linflas]

The very first thing you should do is check the oil level.

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: Linflas
The very first thing you should do is check the oil level.

absolutely

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
My oil light comes on when I break moderately-hard. I don't have time to get it fixed until Friday but if its serious I'll leave early tomorrow.


any ideas?

thanks in advance.

Yes it's serious, and no, you shouldn't drive the car until you check/fill the oil. By the time the idiot light comes on, the damage is starting. Make time.

 

[teckmaster]

depending on the engine, it could be serious or it might not. A friend of mine had a 94' Z24 Cavalier and you could really see the oil pressure flucuate depending how hard she was on the gas. You might have a similar thing happening where, when you brake hard the car reads a massive oil pressure change and thus throws the problem light up.

 

[MorphineChild]

Just out of curiousity do you drive a Chrysler or Dodge product?

 

Possable causes;

(1)Low oil level
(2)Oil has not been changed frequently enough (3,000 miles intervals)
(3)Damaged oil pick up/clogged screen
(4)Damaged oil pump
(5)Damaged pressure relief valve
(6)Damaged oil pan/baffles
(7)Contaminated oil (Water/coolant)

Do you own a Chrysler product ?

The 2.2/2.5 chrysler engines are known to lose oil pressure at idle when warm.If this is the case,change to HD 30,this will cure that one particular problem.

 

[PsychoAndy]

well, sounds like the oil is sloshing around in the engine, possibly the crankcase. when you brake hard, the oil moves and the pump starts moving air instead of dinosaur juice. IIRC, someone once said that when that light comes on, its a pressure issue, so check and add oil as neccesary and that might fix your problem. otherwise, you might need a new pump

 

[phantom309]

You needed to go on the internet for this?
IT MEANS YOU NEED TO PUT OIL IN YOUR CAR.

 

[notfred]

Is it an oil level or oil pressure light?
My guess is that the oil is nearly low eought to set the light off ALL the time. However, the measurement is taken at the back of the oil pan. When you brake hard, momentum kees the oil moving forward, and you get a higher level of oil at the front of the pan than at the back. When this happens, the oil light goes on. Fix: add 1 qt of oil.

If it's an oil pressure light and not an oil level light, then I really have no idea.

 

[Pepsei]

when i was younger... it happend to my gf's ford escort station wagon....

it eventually got worse and stayed on all the time....

mechanics can't seem to fix it....

the engine eventually made a sick crunching sound and the car died while she was on the highway. I gave her my
toyota corrola(sp?). I got myself a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

 

[ATLien247]

Ummm... not break[sic] hard?

 

[CraigRT]

The oil level is probably just low.

check your level and make sure it's full, and get ready to replace your engine or lots of it's guts if the level is too low

 

[Moonbeam]

I wouldn't worry about it. If it's something serious you can just replace the engine.

 

[gotsmack]

it's an 88 volvo 760 4- cyl turbo.

it doesn't leak. I'll get my breaks checked and the coolant flushed.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
it's an 88 volvo 760 4- cyl turbo.
it doesn't leak. I'll get my breaks checked and the coolant flushed.

What do the breaks and coolant system have to do with your original question?

(2)Oil has not been changed frequently enough (3,000 miles intervals)

Hmm, I only change mine every 25,000 miles...

Bill

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: gotsmack
it's an 88 volvo 760 4- cyl turbo.
it doesn't leak. I'll get my breaks checked and the coolant flushed.

What do the breaks and coolant system have to do with your original question?

(2)Oil has not been changed frequently enough (3,000 miles intervals)

Hmm, I only change mine every 25,000 miles...

Bill

Yes, and you are probably running full synthetic.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

I think i will go post a new thread and ask a question, but I will make sure not to read any of hte replies so that my response leaves everyone wondering if I am crack.

 

[Migroo]

Good idea YamahaXS

Check your OIL gotsmack...

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
I think i will go post a new thread and ask a question, but I will make sure not to read any of hte replies so that my response leaves everyone wondering if I am crack.

Exactly what I was thinking...everone says "Check your oil."
Some people gave some other suggestions as well.
NONE of those suggestions include anything to do with brakes or cooling system, so why are you going to check your brakes and cooling system and not your oil?!?!?!

 

[Moonbeam]

yamaha, would YOU reply if you needed a couple of quarts of oil?

Go see if their's a new thread on how to put oil in a car.

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: Roger
Possable causes;

(7)Contaminated oil (Water/coolant)

I didn't check the coolant levels and was running the car with it almost empty. Then I found a bottle in the trunk that I have no idea how long was in there but figured coolant doesn;t go bad and poured in a 70 / 30 water mix the bottle recommended.

I'm due for a tire rotation and an oil change anyway. might as well have the breaks checks while it's on the lift.

 

[Beau]

Could be a power depletion to the pump caused by your brake cylinder hogging the power. Could be a faulty lead/loose part as well.

 

[bsobel]

Hmm, I only change mine every 25,000 miles...
Bill

Yes, and you are probably running full synthetic.

Actually, the car I do that in has a natural gas engine. NG is a lot less corrosive than gasoline, and the 'normal' oil change suggestions from Ford change from 3k to about 25k miles

Bill

 

[LAUST]

Might just be as easy as your oil pressure sender is messed up, seen that plenty of times on motors.