Thread: Fresh oil change, 1000 miles and low oil level light already?

I just got a full syntheic oil change about a month ago. Fresh oil filter as well. So I'm driving the other day and my low oil light comes on. I pull the dip stick after a swipe and the oil is so low that only a small portion of the tip is showing oil, about a 1/4 below the "add 1 quart" marker. Tried another angle and the same result. I am baffled because 1.There is no sign that the car is burning oil, there is no white smoke coming out the exhaust, the engine does not overheat, and the is no burning smell whatsoever. 2. Although I haven't crawled under the car, I see no evidence of any type of leak, meaning I have never once seen an oil spot under the car. I am stumped. Even if this thing was burning mad oil I don't see how it could of burnt THAT much oil in that short of a driving period. I haven't been abusing the car either. Anyone have any idea what might be going on here? Car has around 90,000 miles and has always had synthetic.

Originally Posted by indygrandprix

What engine? If its a 3.8 with a steel pan that could defintley be part of it. Also could be leaking from the crank seal. Look around the harmonic balancer and see if theres a lot of oil

I'm sorry, forgot to mention. It's a 02 GTP. L67 Series 2

Originally Posted by Bronco Boy

What was the oil level on the dipstick after the oil change?

My thought being that not enough oil was put in at that time.

I took it to a local reputable shop who was changing my downpipe at the time. I didn't bother to check the dipstick afterwards.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

sounds like a oil pressure sensor crapped out and is leaking. its right by the oil filter, turn the wheels to the left, then look from behind the pass side wheel, if the plug to it is wet theres your leak.

What would account for there not being any oil spot under the car? I park it the same place everynight, a pretty flat surface and have never seen an oil spot.

Well my car has went through 1 quart and a half of 10W30 synthetic oil again, less than 500 miles. I had a local guy who is knowledgeable take a look at my car. He says he didn't see any oil leaks under or around the car and in his opinion "The motor is worn out and is burning the oil". Ok, I'm not a mechanic but I refuse to believe that my motor is so worn out that it's using a quart per 250 miles. Tons of power, low miles, no smoke coming out the exhaust at any point, no burning smell. I only wish I had the money right now to take it some place and really have it checked out good. Does anyone have any other ideas as to what might be going on?

You can burn oil and not witness it at all, no smell or sight of the burning, and I experienced it first hand in my 1986 Regal I had a 1970 Buick 455 in. I burned 3 quarts in 75 miles driving to the racetrack, you think there would be smoke like hell, but nothing noticed, and the spark plugs where clean also. The problem was my PCV valve was no longer shrouded from oil when I changed the intake manifold and used the composite gasket instead of the steal pan type gasket, the steel pan type gasket blocks oil from the lifter valley from being sucked into the PCV valve. What I had to do was change the location of the PCV valve from the rear of the intake manifold (which is the stock location), to the left side valve cover. The way I discovered I was 3 quarts low on oil was at the finish line at the race track, when I would brake to make the exit, my engine started knocking and indication on my oil pressure gauge dropped to "0". So YES you can burn oil, a lot of oil, if the conditions are right and not see, smell, notice it at all.

Originally Posted by QUICKSILVER462

You can burn oil and not witness it at all, no smell or sight of the burning, and I experienced it first hand in my 1986 Regal I had a 1970 Buick 455 in. I burned 3 quarts in 75 miles driving to the racetrack, you think there would be smoke like hell, but nothing noticed, and the spark plugs where clean also. The problem was my PCV valve was no longer shrouded from oil when I changed the intake manifold and used the composite gasket instead of the steal pan type gasket, the steel pan type gasket blocks oil from the lifter valley from being sucked into the PCV valve. What I had to do was change the location of the PCV valve from the rear of the intake manifold (which is the stock location), to the left side valve cover. The way I discovered I was 3 quarts low on oil was at the finish line at the race track, when I would brake to make the exit, my engine started knocking and indication on my oil pressure gauge dropped to "0". So YES you can burn oil, a lot of oil, if the conditions are right and not see, smell, notice it at all.

Very useful post with lots of good info. Thanks for sharing. So ok, my engine might be burning oil, but I still call BS on the " The motor is worn out and that's why it's using so much". That theory doesn't add up to me.

Very good thread here. I don't have much to add but my 01 GTP is going through a quart or so every 3000 miles with no leaks on the ground either. Engine runs strong and silky smooth. I find it hard to believe that mine is "worn out" too. I hope you can get to the bottom of the problem so that it might benefit others as well. Good luck!

any chance the oil is being sucked through the lower intake gasket into a cylinder? I had an external leak from the LIM but it was in a spot where the rear exhaust manifold was burning it off before it could get to the ground but I if you had that problem you would notice the smoke/smell right away.

if you want to rule out the worn engine theory just do a compression and leak down test on it.

I appreciate all the responses guys. I still say a quart per 200 miles is not right regardless of how "worn" my engine might be. I suggested the compression test and he said that wouldn't tell us anything. As for it being sucked throught the lower intake gasket, I do not know. I guess that will have to be checked when I get a chance to take this thing to a real garage.

Originally Posted by Bronco Boy

This. Back in the 90's, I had a brand new car that consumed about a quart every 3 months.




Not worn out, but worn. It is not BS. Do an engine flush on a hi mileage engine; the knocks and rattles afterwords are awesome.

A quart every 3 months is no compairson to a quart every 200 miles or so, new car or not.