oil light on when idle and start. but no other time

[D-Man]

hey guys,

my 99 vt calais oil light flashes and beeps at me when i sit at the lights idling. when i rev just above idle say just below 1k / right on 1k rpm it goes off.

there's enough oil (just a bees dick below the full line on the dipstick)

maybe oil sensor? but im not sure.

any ideas?

[kazalex]

A common cause of loss of oil pressure in the V6 engines is sludge build up in the sump.

Drain out all of the oil, and put new stuff in.

Apart from this sludge build up causing your problem, other causes may be failure of the pressure relief valve or failure of the

oil pump.

[pablo]

Indicator lights are just that.............indicators!
Get an accurate reading by fitting a pressure gauge in line to see what the pressure actually is.
The crank bearings may have excess clearance (worn out)
Sludge in the sump is not on the pressure side of the lubrication system.

[Michelson4301]

Indicator lights are just that.............indicators!
Get an accurate reading by fitting a pressure gauge in line to see what the pressure actually is.
The crank bearings may have excess clearance (worn out)
Sludge in the sump is not on the pressure side of the lubrication system.

How is the pump supposed to feed oil if it can't suck it up from the sump ?

[pablo]

Think about it!, any sludge build up doesn't suddenly happen, any gradual build up near the pump intake would be sucked in and circulated or caught in the filter. Any minute sludge particles that start to settle near the intake would be drawn up in the oil as it is sucked into the pump. Those trochoidal pumps have very high pumping power, enough to 'pull the flesh off your hand', or whatever gets caught up.
If the engine had that much sludge in the sump, it must be a very high kilometer motor, ready for a overhaul.

[greenfoam]

True enough oil pumps will suck your fingers through the strainer:!) but it's also true that they can get blocked by carbon and cause a total loss in oil pressure, carbon is much stronger than fingers . But I don't think that will be the problem on a V6, 5 litre sure. But on the V6 it should be a faulty spring or sensor

[D-Man]

the oil is brand new. so shouldnt be the oil. it's literally done 100 k's max.

could be sludge, the car was sitting there for almost 18 months straight. but im thinking its more than than because i do remember it happening just before i lost my license.. hence the 18 months of sittage.

im thinking along the lines of sensor/spring or the bearing one someone suggested.

so what's the go in diagnosing it? will it show a fault code? i imagine it would.

[vxcalais_01]

What oil filter are you using ? That can have alot to do, also what oil are you using ? If its only on startup for a few seconds, i would be too concerned, its when it stays on and comes on other times its a worry.

[D-Man]

yeah comes on when the car is at running temp + cold.

so it is a little odd.

ryco filter - nothing special and oil is valvoline

[lucas6691]

yeah i have the same problem, i have changed the sender and it was good for a week.
but yesterday its come back on again. it could be sludge on the pick up but i dont think so!
im sure the wiring is loose some where. im going to hook up a oil pressure gauge to it WHAT SHOULD IT BE READING??? nothing below 10 psi?

[missboo85]

i new to this site and i'm having this problem of when my car is warm and when ur not accelerating that the oil light beeps at me i've had it service also had the sender unit replaced can some one plz help with any info as its a shit of a thing and its driving me crazy lol same as it would be to the guy as well