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11-06-2008, 11:51 PM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
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BAIC
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Vehicle:2015 WRX Ice Silver Metalic |
Oil light... when does it come on?
When is the oil light supposed to come on, when the oil is low? Seems obvious but I had my motor blow a couple of years back, and the dealership said it was because it didn't have any oil, but the oil light never came on. I had to shell out 5k to get it fixed.
The worst part is, I got it back from the dealership and it blew less than a month later
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11-06-2008, 11:55 PM | #2 |
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The oil light is basically there to tell you something has gone horribly wrong, that horribly wrong thing is usually that you only have 1 quart of oil left in your engine. Sounds like you may want to invest in a oil pressure gauge?
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11-06-2008, 11:59 PM | #3 |
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Yea i'm going to get a series of gauges so I can futher prevent anything like that happening again. If my car had no oil, and the light didn't go on, it either all fell out all at once... or the light didn't work. It's too late now, but is that something that should be covered by SOA or the dealership because of the malfunction?
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11-06-2008, 11:59 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
moral of the story, CHECK OIL OFTEN! No reason not to check it at every gas fill. |
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11-07-2008, 12:07 AM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
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BAIC
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very true, I do it religiously now, and change it every 3k. Quite a ****ty lesson to learn, and I still feel there was something else at hand, considering I got the car back from being in the shop twice consecutively (5 months total) and they didn't check the oil once.
I'm still perplexed as to how it happened! but none the less, you live and you learn |
11-07-2008, 12:14 AM | #6 |
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Vehicle:2007 WRB WRX EJ257 |
It comes on ~2.5psi. Like they said above, by this time it's most likely too late. Just get an oil pressure gauge and you'll be fine.
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11-07-2008, 12:20 AM | #7 |
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Vehicle:2004 Forester STI Silver |
The light comes on at a very low pressure. Generally, if it does turn on, the engine has already been damaged.
I don't know of a car that doesn't have an oil light. They just aren't useful though. If you have concerns, a gauge is the best route because it shows a range of pressure rather then a warning that is so low that damage has already been done. However, a gauge really has little use in a daily driver. It's better for built engines where these things can be more critical. It shouldn't be used as a tool for negligence. You don't have to change your oil every 3k miles, although, it is a good practice. The oils these days simply last a good deal longer. However, oil is lost, and changing every 3k is around when you see enough loss where you would probably be adding more oil anyways. A good, preventative habit you need to get into is checking your oil level on every fill up of gas. This way you'll know how much is in there and how much you have lost. There will be no surprise. There will be no blown engine. Do this and you will be ahead of the issue. Ignoring regular checks pretty much guarantees a blown motor. You'll blindly drive the thing for 6 months without touching the oil and one day it will end up siezed...to your amazement... Car's require regular maintainance. Ignorance and neglect leads to failure. |
11-07-2008, 12:32 AM | #8 | |
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11-07-2008, 12:42 AM | #9 |
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No need. Oil doesn't disappear that fast. Leave the oil in the garage. There's no need to have the chance for it to leak all over your car.
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11-07-2008, 01:21 AM | #10 |
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11-07-2008, 01:24 AM | #11 |
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11-07-2008, 02:48 AM | #12 |
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The oil light is tell you that your engine is ****ed. I spun a bearing on mine thanks to no oil at all and the light didn't come on at all.
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11-07-2008, 04:50 PM | #13 |
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Yes, that red idiot oil light is there to say "You now have 5 minutes remaining before the engine dies a horrible death. Please make immediate arrangements to a) have the car towed to a repair shop to have the engine replaced or b) have the car towed to a wrecking yard to dispose of it."
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11-07-2008, 07:09 PM | #14 |
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when you need oil.
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11-07-2008, 11:50 PM | #15 |
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11-07-2008, 11:51 PM | #16 |
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11-08-2008, 06:30 PM | #17 |
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I tested a couple stock Subaru oil pressure switches and they all were around 5 psi. I used a random assortment of pipe fitting to attach the switch to an air compressor line with a ball valve and a boost guage attached.
In other words - They can be used as a ghetto fabulous boost switch (with a relay) If it illuminates even for a moment you have damaged your engine to some extent. (starting is the exception) |
12-16-2008, 11:14 PM | #18 |
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My oil light came on today. My car has always been garaged except for the past week this winter--I bought a new vehicle and it took its spot while I clean out the third bay. Anyhow, when I first started the car this morning when it was cold, the oil light came on; it was very dim. I let it warm up as I was scrapping snow and ice and gently drove away. As the car warmed up, it went off.
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12-16-2008, 11:49 PM | #19 | |
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12-17-2008, 08:00 AM | #20 | |
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Quote:
Also, your car and relative location would help. |
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12-17-2008, 09:00 AM | #21 | |
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12-17-2008, 11:14 AM | #22 |
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cold weather can do strange things to cars.....and a 'dim' oil light may just mean that it isnt happy with the cold
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12-17-2008, 01:34 PM | #23 | |
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12-17-2008, 05:08 PM | #24 |
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I keep an extra quart in a freezer ziplock bag---YES it WILL hold motor oil without leaking for an extended period of time......I wedge the bag in the slot where the jack is, against the inside of the quarter panel.
That way, if it leaks...it wont leak IN the car. you can store lots of things in there like that |
12-17-2008, 05:48 PM | #25 | |
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Quote:
I had my oil light come on once after I drove through a large puddle. I started to get worried until I remembered I had replaced the stock sender with an oil pressure gauge. I've actually found my oil temp gauge to be an indicator of low oil. It runs slightly warmer when the oil level is low. |
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