Oil light on dash taking longer to go out

Jules3084 · 07-15-2005, 03:23 PM

On a 98SL with 90K miles and regular oil changes, the oil light on the dash takes longer (1-2 minutes) to go off after starting. Might the oil pump be going, or is it more likely to be the pressure switch acting up?
Any advise would be appreciated.
Thank you.

PurdueGuy · 07-15-2005, 03:32 PM

Check your oil level?

Jules3084 · 07-15-2005, 04:52 PM

The oil was just changed, and the level is full.

the Shaolin UWP · 07-15-2005, 10:49 PM

My 94 sc2 did that for a while...I think I just hit the oil life monitor reset. Dunno, though.

**Ssicarman** · 07-16-2005, 02:33 AM

Oil just changed? Was a good quality filter used? There have been a couple people that have the same kind of problem with poor quality oil filters or ones with no anti drain back valve. This is likely the case if the problem began right after the oil change. If it was happening before then it may be the oil pressure sending unit or it could be mechanincal. Does it do this every time you start the car or only after sitting for awhile. If every time you may want to consider gettign an oil pressure test done onthe car to see if the pressure is actually low. The other way may be to replace the sending unit first to see if that changes things.

ian12 · 07-19-2005, 01:44 AM

my moms car does the same thing. been like that for quite sometime. valvoline typically did the oil changes, but now i always seem to come up at the right time to change her oil. i know its not her filter, i use ac. its always had valvoline full synthetic since we had it, and now its got royal purple. im starting to think either oil pump is going bad(valve train never clangs which is good) or the sending unit is bad.

Jules3084 · 08-14-2005, 06:56 PM

Thank you all for your input.

Today was cooler out, so I replaced the Mobile oil filter from Precision Lube with a Saturn filter from the dealer. To my surprise, I could not get the oil light to go out, while alowing maybe 5 min of running with the oil level at full on the stick! I'm thinking the pump should pressurize in a matter of seconds not minutes.

I decided to take a step back and put the Mobile filter back on, and it acted as it has been, 30 to 60 seconds to go out. When the Saturn filter was removed from the car, there wasn't any oil in the filter to speak of.

I'm begining to believe the oil light is ok, and the oil pressure is really
low. I don't know where the oil filter is in relation to the pump, probably on the output of the pump. If this is a weak pump does this make sense?

Any comments, opinions, or suggestions are most welcome.

**Ssicarman** · 08-14-2005, 07:07 PM

Ok so you ran the enginewith an indicated no oil pressure for close to 5 minutes. At that point the engine should have been making all kinds of noises that it shouldn't. The lifters would have been clattering away. Probable timing chain noise.

Did you hear any abnormal noises from the engine? If not then you should replace the oil sending unit. At the very least check it to make sure that you did not damage the wire/connector for it on this filter change. Not likely but worth checking. It is on the block by the back of the alternator.

Jules3084 · 08-14-2005, 08:25 PM

Thank you for the advise.
The engine sounded normal during the approximate 5 minutes.
I had checked the connection to the sending unit, that looked ok.
Time to change the sending unit.

Jules3084 · 08-19-2005, 09:34 PM

I have replaced the oil sending sensor, with the Mobil filter still on, and still have a 15 second to 30 second delay before the oil light goes out on the dash.

Would this still be considered normal ? I don't remember it acting this way in the past, with a Saturn oil filter or any other oil filter.

With 91,000 miles, could this be some sludge build up?
Might an engine oil flush help if it is?

Any advise or comments would be greatly appreciated.