Intermittent oil light?

[2o6]

I got the tribute's emissions stuff all solved. The rearmost catalytic converter was replaced, since it was clogged.


I cleared the codes and the car is running generally good.



However, the oil pressure light comes on, but only at idle - and at idle when the car is at operating temp.


Thoughts?

[giant_mtb]

Oil pump going bad? Is that a thing?

[CaminoRacer]

Is it running kind of hot? Any noises from the engine?

Oil pump sounds like the likely culprit.

[shp4man]

I got the tribute's emissions stuff all solved. The rearmost catalytic converter was replaced, since it was clogged.


I cleared the codes and the car is running generally good.




However, the oil pressure light comes on, but only at idle - and at idle when the car is at operating temp.


Thoughts?

It's usually the sender, but a mechanical oil pressure test is indicated. Or do the mechanic's personal car thing and change the oil to 20-50w and see if it goes away...

[2o6]

Oil pump going bad? Is that a thing?

Is it running kind of hot? Any noises from the engine?

Oil pump sounds like the likely culprit.

Runs fine, smooth, no knocks. I don't think it's the oil pump.

It's usually the sender, but a mechanical oil pressure test is indicated. Or do the mechanic's personal car thing and change the oil to 20-50w and see if it goes away...

I'm going to drive it again and see what the idle is doing. I'm not sure if it's idling too slowly and it's acting weird.

[280Z Turbo]

Bearings are shot. You have no chance to survive make your time.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Have you changed the oil?

[2o6]

Have you changed the oil?

Not yet, I've basically driven it from the sellers house to the shop for a new cat.

[Soup DeVille]

Sell quickly.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Summit

[Byteme]

It's usually the sender, but a mechanical oil pressure test is indicated. Or do the mechanic's personal car thing and change the oil to 20-50w and see if it goes away...

What he said.

Go buy a mechanical gauge, they are cheap enough, and remove the factory sending unit, Install the mechanical one in it's place and see what pressure you get at cold idle and various RPM and at hot idle ad various RPM.

Or. 

Just replace the OEM sender with a new one and see if the problem goes away.  I don't think the senders are al that much.

I'd steer clear of heavier oil and/or additives if I could.

[2o6]

I just bought a new sender, should be here in a few days.


I'm wondering if it may be dirty throttle body or IAC. Idle still isn't 100%, so I wonder f the IAC is idling too slowly.


Jusginf from engine sound and the fact it's still pretty responsive I don't think it's actually an oil problem.

[Soup DeVille]

I don't see how any of those things are related to oil pressure. If the sender is good, the level at which the light comes on is really low: lower than even a low idle speed will produce.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Change the oil, put 10 40 or 5 40 in it.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I don't see how any of those things are related to oil pressure. If the sender is good, the level at which the light comes on is really low: lower than even a low idle speed will produce.

The oil maybe 5 years old with 40k miles on it.

First thing I'd do is change it.

[CaminoRacer]

I don't see how any of those things are related to oil pressure. If the sender is good, the level at which the light comes on is really low: lower than even a low idle speed will produce.

Oil pressure is highest at idle, even if the car is almost stalling out it'll be double the pressure it's normally at on the highway.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Oil pressure is highest at idle, even if the car is almost stalling out it'll be double the pressure it's normally at on the highway.

I don't think that is the case for modern engines built in the last 30 years.

Oil pressure is low at idle and increases with rpm. I'm sure if the specs of the tribute where looked up it would show this.

[2o6]

Secret Chimp said his did the same thing and it turned out to be a bad sending unit (he also runs heavier oil than stock).



I'll change the oil and run 10w-30 (instead of 5w-20) and see what happens.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Sending units are very common, oil needs to be changed either way.

[2o6]

Like I said, I have only driven the car from the seller's house, to my house. Then my house, to the exhaust shop.

[CaminoRacer]

I don't think that is the case for modern engines built in the last 30 years.

Oil pressure is low at idle and increases with rpm. I'm sure if the specs of the tribute where looked up it would show this.

No I'm just retarded.

[GoCougs]

Best of luck but it's usually not the sending unit or a bad oil pump (= ruined engine anyway). This is a classic sign (when the oil/engine warms up) of bad main bearing(s).

[2o6]

Best of luck but it's usually not the sending unit or a bad oil pump (= ruined engine anyway). This is a classic sign (when the oil/engine warms up) of bad main bearing(s).

I'm not sure, but I haven't ruled it out. Quick search shows that this problem is fairly common on Tribute/Escapes. (I mean, Chimp's did the same thing)



I'm staying optimistic

[Byteme]

Oil pressure is highest at idle,

Somebody better inform the XK engines that powered Jaguars for almost 50 years starting in 1949.  They all pull lower pressure at idle, 10 lbs is not uncommon and should have about 40 PSI at 3,000 rpm.

At low RPM you are pumping a lesser volume through the same oil galleries and bearings as you would at high RPM.  That's lesser volume is going to result in less pressure.

[CaminoRacer]

Somebody better inform the XK engines that powered Jaguars for almost 50 years starting in 1949.  They all pull lower pressure at idle, 10 lbs is not uncommon and should have about 40 PSI at 3,000 rpm.

At low RPM you are pumping a lesser volume through the same oil galleries and bearings as you would at high RPM.  That's lesser volume is going to result in less pressure.

I'm just retarded.

[12,000 RPM]

We all have our moments

My Z's oil pressure confirms CLKid's findings

And my 1st Accord lunched its bearings pulling to a stop I really did cry when that car died

[2o6]

you guys think Jiffy Lube will put in 10w30 in it if I ask? (Instead of 5w20?)

[Byteme]

you guys think Jiffy Lube will put in 10w30 in it if I ask? (Instead of 5w20?)

Probably, but why not change the sender first and see if that solves the problem before you change oil weights?  And why not change your own oil and know it's done right?

[AutobahnSHO]

Because if you don't have your own garage, changing oil is a pain. My apartment in SC said no car maintenance on the premises.

[2o6]

I got the change and took it up to 10w30 - the oil light is more of a flicker, but still comes on idle. It runs fine, no clatters, no hesitation, no shitty idle. It doesn't feel like it's going to stall. Feels about the same as with 5w20...



I just asked at the Escape forum, and it's fairly common for tthe sender units in the V6 models to fail like this.