YACT: oil light comes on @ idle, Dipstick shows full...???

[isaacmacdonald]

I have a 98' stratus. I'm due for plugs and timing belt, and I'm planning on getting the work done early next week. Anyway, a couple days ago the oil light started fluttering on when I come to stop lights (after the car has warmed up). It is solid when the car idles (500rpm) but goes out when it goes past 700rpm. The dipstick shows full oil, and it's been about 1400 miles since my last oil change. Any ideas what's going on?

 

[geno]

I'd say an oil pressure problem

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: geno
I'd say an oil pressure problem

Is it ok to drive around for a couple more days?

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: geno
I'd say an oil pressure problem

Is it ok to drive around for a couple more days?

I'd rather not give you my guess, since I'm not too familiar with oil pressure issues. It does sound like your car is idling a little too low (500 seems a little on the low end, does it shake at that idle speed?), and that could be a factor as to why you're getting too little oil pressure (if that's the problem...)

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: geno

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: geno
I'd say an oil pressure problem

Is it ok to drive around for a couple more days?

I'd rather not give you my guess, since I'm not too familiar with oil pressure issues. It does sound like your car is idling a little too low (500 seems a little on the low end, does it shake at that idle speed?), and that could be a factor as to why you're getting too little oil pressure (if that's the problem...)

It tends to shake a bit when I'm standing, though I never notice it @ stop lights.

 

[Vette73]

Add a little more oil to have a SLIGHT overfill. If that helps, then it may be caused be the oil pump screen leaking or coming off. Also could juts have a bad oil pump pressure spring. Or even a bad sending unit.

DO NOT DRIVE IT LIKE THIS. It may not blow up right away, but the more you drive the more damage it does. If it is a sending unit problem then it will not hurt, but sounds like a hard part failure.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

That maybe a little slow for idle speed. Change the sending unit for the idiot light. They can leak externally or sometimes internally. If you have a manual gage that can be installed temporarily to check warm idle oil pressure. The sending units make contact at around 8 psi.........:sun:

 

[FritzTheCat]

Definitely a low oil pressure problem. Could be caused by thin oil, worn bearings, or a too slow idle speed. When you come to a stop, slap it in neutral and give it enough gas to raise the idle enough to make the light go out. Check the Chilton's Manual (available at local library) for correct idle speed. Adjust if necessary. If light still comes on, change oil to next thicker grade (example: 10W30 to 10W40). If this doesn't solve your problem, you need to get a mechanical reading of the oil pressure.

 

[LAUST]

I've never had a car with just idiot lights, do they have Oil Pressure Senders? I would check that out.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Some car combine both the gauge & light in one sender. Some use a seperate sender
for each.

 

[tranceport]

Oil pressure sensor. Get it fixed.

 

Chryslers have a known low oil pressure problem at low idle, change the oil to a higher viscosity oil.