"Low Oil Pressure" light being displayed while idle

Tiny
2001MONTECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Monte Carlo (3.4 engine) and it has been running a little weird on me lately. It has been stalling out when idle are coming to a complete stop (not often though) This past weekend, I decided to do some maintenance on it. So I changed the oil, oil filter, transmission fluid, transmission filter, through some fuel injector cleaner in it and filled up my gas tank. The old oil that I drained out looked pretty bad, but I was barley over the 3,000 mile mark since my last oil change. Could be because I didn't change my oil filter last time I did my oil change. Anyway, after I did all that, my car started to display "Low Oil Pressure" light while at idle. (It had never displayed that before I did the oil change) I drove it around and it kept showing it when I would stop or was at idle and the car stalled out on me backing out of the driveway and when I stopped at a stop sign (it stalled out on me for the first time earlier this week when I pulled up in my driveway). A buddy of mine told me to change the oil again on run gum out engine cleaner through it to clean it out. I did, and the light was still showing. Then I changed the Oil sending unit. Still the light was being displayed when at idle or when stopped. So I didn't drive it yesterday. I drove it today but the light wasn't being displayed when I started the car up. About 5 minutes after driving it, the light finally came on for a few seconds while I was stopped at a red light but then went off and never came back on again (I drove it for about another 5 minutes) There are no strange noises coming from the engine and the car seems to run just fine, besides when it stalled out. I think my oil pump might be weak or partially clogged up. I know this is a lot of information and I apologize for that but I just need some advice. If you could please get back to me and let me know what you think, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 AT 4:30 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
What weight/type oil did you put in?
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Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 AT 4:48 PM
Tiny
2001MONTECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The first time I used Pennzoil 5w-30 with a fram oil filter. Then I used gum out engine cleaner and changed the oil using Quacker Stake and Lube 5w-30 with a purolator oil filter.
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Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 AT 5:05 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
I'd change to 10w30-40 and see if that stops it. Or just add LUCAS oil stabilizer. Or both.
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Thursday, March 10th, 2011 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
2001MONTECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I took it to a shop it it appears that the camshaft is cracked. The mechanic recommends that I have a new engine put in.
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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
I shoulda known? I musta been also working on a 3100 question so I missed it! The 3400's are NOTORIOUS for broken camshafts. Putting another motor is no fix in my opinion, only temporary. Unless a different model? Why not just put in another camshaft and sell it? God bless gm?
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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
2001MONTECARLO
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
That's what I was thinking. Will this happen to me again down the line? Do you think getting a rebuilt engine will solve the issue? I have an engine lined up with 60,000 miles on it for $1,000. Also, if I get a rebuilt engine the labor will cost me more.
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Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 AT 6:07 PM

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