Thread: Low oil pressure DIC

So, I have noticed that I am getting a "Low Oil Pressure" alert on my DIC when I start my car. I have checked the oil and I have enough. Also, I have noticed that it really only alerts me if the car is turned on after its been warmed up, i.e. I start my car and head off to work (no alert), I stop at the gas station to get a drink, when I get back into the car and start it up I get the alert. I'm not hearing any ticking or bad sounds from the engine, it does occasionally stall when shifting from 1st to 2nd, though (not sure how to fix that or what will fix that).

What should I do? Is there something wrong? Bad sensor or oil pump?

Also I might add I did the 3 button to 5 button DIC swap. (still need to get the engine mileage flashed).


Thanks for reading.

Cheers.

Do you hear any noises?

How many miles on the motor?

What engine oil?

-Bob C.

Originally Posted by bobc455

Do you hear any noises?

How many miles on the motor?

What engine oil?

-Bob C.

I don't hear any noises.

about 195k miles.

I believe its 5w30 but I don't know the particulars. The oil change place does Pennzoil I believe and i think they put in a high milage in my car.

Check the electrical connection at the oil pressure sending unit. They are known to fail internally and push oil out of the plug and can drain the motor of oil if it's bad enough. I've had mine fail twice on my 00 GT and then I deleted that POS and installed a true electronic oil pressure gauge on my a-pillar. No issues since then and I've got a bit over 418K on my engine now and still shows good pressure.

At 195K that engine should be just fine if it's been even somewhat maintained. I run 5W-30 standard Valvoline oil in mine and always have, along with a Wix oil filter. I never loose more than a quart between my 3K mi. oil changes which is within the factory specs and I'm not always easy on it. This is also assuming that you have no major external oil leaks (valve covers, pan, crank seal).

I gave up on Pennzoil almost 20yrs. ago now due to the junk I kept seeing in my other cars. It seems they may have changed that but I'm still not willing to go back at this point. I just run what I know works.

A quality oil filter is a must. No idea what oil change places use since I change all my own oil but I'd venture to bet they use the cheapest possible to maintain their profit.

Well it could be the sensor for sure. Occasionally my DIC will give me the "WARNING LOW OIL PRESSURE END OF THE WORLD IS EMINENT" message but it's only because the sensor wire is shorting against something (and honestly I've been too lazy to go after the wire). It will cure itself after a few days for the next year or so, until probably I bump it during an oil change or something. So it might only be a wire.

But as said above - make sure you don't use a crappy filter, you can buy a box of a dozen Wix on RockAuto and just have the pennzoil place use your own filter (even though they won't charge any less but we are talking about your car's engine!!! so just eat the extra $5).

5W30 is probably fine, and I know of engines with MUCH more than 195k miles on them (but of course a prior owner who never changed oil might have caused a bunch of issues which are now yours to deal with but that's usually not the case).

Also for the record I think that if you are on a board like this, you have the chutzpah to do your own oil changes. Just get some ramps, a 15mm wrench, a drain pan, funnel and maybe an oil filter wrench in case someone overtightened yours. Then you KNOW how your car is being treated and don't have to guess. (I am not knocking Pennzoil or any oil change place - but the more of your own work you can do, the better you'll be in the long run. Oops I guess I'm off topic.

Anyhow keep us updated!

-Bob C.