oil pressurte light?

kcvpr · 11-22-2009, 10:57 AM

so I was driving home from Jack in the box last night..... then out of nowhere after putting the clutch in to coast to a red light the motor dies

, So im like wtf, and start the motor back up didn't hear any weird noises and go on my way, like nothing happend... well about a mile down the road theres a stop sign, as I am comeing to a stop the oil light comes on for a second and turns off So at this point I'm just down the street from my house, so I drive the rest of the way back... and shut the car off, pop the hood let it cool, and check the oil.

And FML its not even on the dipstick!

I'm not going to drive it till I change the oil and refill it....

Should i be worried????

Thanks for the help!

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jigga · 11-22-2009, 12:38 PM

Yes, you should be.. Usually, if that oil pressure lamp comes on while you are driving, it is telling you that it is time for a new shortblock.. It comes on when you have close to no oil pressure left.

And since you kept driving when it came on.....

How often do you check your oil?

evan_impreza · 11-22-2009, 12:43 PM

Very very bad. Start saving for a new motor. Check your oil regularly!!

Uncle Scotty · 11-22-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcvpr

so I was driving home from Jack in the box last night..... then out of nowhere after putting the clutch in to coast to a red light the motor dies

, So im like wtf, and start the motor back up didn't hear any weird noises and go on my way, like nothing happend... well about a mile down the road theres a stop sign, as I am comeing to a stop the oil light comes on for a second and turns off So at this point I'm just down the street from my house, so I drive the rest of the way back... and shut the car off, pop the hood let it cool, and check the oil.

And FML its not even on the dipstick!

I'm not going to drive it till I change the oil and refill it....

Should i be worried????

Thanks for the help!

your negligence caused you to kill your engine

CKxx · 11-22-2009, 01:20 PM

Yea, sorry to be all doom and gloom about it, but the stock light come on when you are below 2.1psi... When cruising, you should be at something like 60psi, for reference.

As everyone has said, you should probably start saving some money. There is a chance it will still drive for some period of time (maybe a year, maybe 20 minutes) but I would bet my $1 that there is damage to the bearings.

supersuby2 · 11-22-2009, 05:54 PM

Yeah i had this happen on a honda several years ago and though it did run afterwards the bears where toast and the motor needed to get rebuilt. All i can say is that in my case the light came on at high RPMs but only breifly. You could get lucky here but driving it with the light usually damages things fast. I have often wondered why even put the damn light in the car since its totally useless since once it come on its usually too late. Good luck though maybe it will work out for ya bud.....

spinningcain · 11-22-2009, 07:18 PM

God damn CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY TIME YOU GET GAS....I can't believe how lazy people are

bigolrig · 11-22-2009, 08:25 PM

Ruh Roe!
Check your oil! Subies eat it up

northpolerex · 11-23-2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigolrig

Ruh Roe!
Check your oil! Subies eat it up

I don't want to thread jack, but how much oil is consummed every 3,000 miles ya think? My car has a slight leak, but I usually drop about a quart every time I change my oil. Think this is normal or a little excessive?

timmah · 11-23-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northpolerex

I don't want to thread jack, but how much oil is consummed every 3,000 miles ya think? My car has a slight leak, but I usually drop about a quart every time I change my oil. Think this is normal or a little excessive?

it may be on the "Higher" side of what you'll find around here, but according to subaru, it's within specification.

i was using about a quart of 5w30. i switched to 5w40 rotella and now it consumes much less oil.

CKxx · 11-23-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northpolerex

I don't want to thread jack, but how much oil is consummed every 3,000 miles ya think? My car has a slight leak, but I usually drop about a quart every time I change my oil. Think this is normal or a little excessive?

They consider up to 1qt/1000mi to be acceptable. That would be insane on any other car, but again, they say it's ok.

Just check your oil every time/every other time you get gas. That's what many of us do.

Concillian · 11-23-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CKxx

They consider up to 1qt/1000mi to be acceptable. That would be insane on any other car, but again, they say it's ok.

Wow, that's a lot.

My wife's 1.8L N/A Corolla eats almost that much (engine known for oil consumption + 180k miles) My WRX eats less than 1 qt per oil change at 148k miles.

Longshot55 · 11-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmah

it may be on the "Higher" side of what you'll find around here, but according to subaru, it's within specification.

i was using about a quart of 5w30. i switched to 5w40 rotella and now it consumes much less oil.

Rotella ftw, holds up nicely against high engine temps.

bigolrig · 11-23-2009, 04:59 PM

^^ correctumondo!

Rotella is meant for big turbo diesels, so it puts up with a little bit more of a beating then standard oil

JVD · 11-23-2009, 05:40 PM

Do not rely on your oil pressure SWITCH to tell you when you need oil.

It is NOT meant to act as a pressure gauge. It will come on when you have basically no oil. By then your motor is most likely pooched.

11-22-2009, 10:57 AM	#1
kcvpr Scooby Newbie Member#: 228954 Join Date: Nov 2009	oil pressurte light? so I was driving home from Jack in the box last night..... then out of nowhere after putting the clutch in to coast to a red light the motor dies , So im like wtf, and start the motor back up didn't hear any weird noises and go on my way, like nothing happend... well about a mile down the road theres a stop sign, as I am comeing to a stop the oil light comes on for a second and turns off So at this point I'm just down the street from my house, so I drive the rest of the way back... and shut the car off, pop the hood let it cool, and check the oil. And FML its not even on the dipstick! I'm not going to drive it till I change the oil and refill it.... Should i be worried???? Thanks for the help! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-22-2009, 12:38 PM	#2
jigga Scooby Guru Member#: 9960 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ontario. Canada.	Yes, you should be.. Usually, if that oil pressure lamp comes on while you are driving, it is telling you that it is time for a new shortblock.. It comes on when you have close to no oil pressure left. And since you kept driving when it came on..... How often do you check your oil?

11-22-2009, 12:43 PM	#3
evan_impreza Scooby Specialist Member#: 115276 Join Date: May 2006 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Orlando, Florida Vehicle: 04 PSM WRX p&p fp 16g -- UTI tuned	Very very bad. Start saving for a new motor. Check your oil regularly!!

11-22-2009, 01:20 PM	#5
CKxx Scooby Specialist Member#: 33458 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: West Chester, PA Vehicle: 1988 Justy 1.2L 4WD 2002 WRX 2.1L AWD	Yea, sorry to be all doom and gloom about it, but the stock light come on when you are below 2.1psi... When cruising, you should be at something like 60psi, for reference. As everyone has said, you should probably start saving some money. There is a chance it will still drive for some period of time (maybe a year, maybe 20 minutes) but I would bet my $1 that there is damage to the bearings.

11-22-2009, 05:54 PM	#6
supersuby2 Scooby Newbie Member#: 161678 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Marquette MI Vehicle: 2002 wrx white	Yeah i had this happen on a honda several years ago and though it did run afterwards the bears where toast and the motor needed to get rebuilt. All i can say is that in my case the light came on at high RPMs but only breifly. You could get lucky here but driving it with the light usually damages things fast. I have often wondered why even put the damn light in the car since its totally useless since once it come on its usually too late. Good luck though maybe it will work out for ya bud.....

11-22-2009, 07:18 PM	#7
spinningcain Scooby Specialist Member#: 176490 Join Date: Apr 2008 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Las Vegas Vehicle: 2004 WRX VF39 silver	God damn CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY TIME YOU GET GAS....I can't believe how lazy people are

11-22-2009, 08:25 PM	#8
bigolrig Scooby Specialist Member#: 185347 Join Date: Jul 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Lexington, OH Vehicle: 2002 Golfball wagon. FBHIC-Peterbilt	Ruh Roe! Check your oil! Subies eat it up

11-23-2009, 04:59 PM	#14
bigolrig Scooby Specialist Member#: 185347 Join Date: Jul 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Lexington, OH Vehicle: 2002 Golfball wagon. FBHIC-Peterbilt	^^ correctumondo! Rotella is meant for big turbo diesels, so it puts up with a little bit more of a beating then standard oil

11-23-2009, 05:40 PM	#15
JVD Scooby Newbie Member#: 213130 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon PSM	Do not rely on your oil pressure SWITCH to tell you when you need oil. It is NOT meant to act as a pressure gauge. It will come on when you have basically no oil. By then your motor is most likely pooched.