97 Honda Accord oil light keeps coming on

ROZYRY

MEMBER
1997 HONDA ACCORD

My 1997 Honda Accord ex has about 198,000 miles on it and never gave me serious problems until now. If I drive for more than 30 min. The oil light will start blinking red. Mostly when I brake or stop. Then when I get off I smell burnt oil. I get regular oil changes and I just got a fuel system flush. I just got an oil change and it smelled like burnt oil right after whenever I drove for a while. Now it is the oil light that turns on. I took it to a mechanic and he said without thoroughly inspecting it that I need a new car or replace engine because he also heard a knocking noise. I've been going easy on my car trying not to drive it for a long period of time, not going anything over 60mph, and not accelerating too quick and fast. I warm up my car before I go anywhere and my engine sounds just fine. You can't even tell anything is wrong with it until I start to drive for more than 30min. Then oil light will turn on, car feels rough, and when I turn off car, it smells like burnt oil when I walk by the hood. Oil is correctly filled, so is it really that I need new engine? (Estimate to get used engine was $2500)

6 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

OK, lets see what we can do here. First, does the car use oil? How much?

Second, do you see any oil leaks on the car? I ask this because it is possible to have a valve cover leak that lets out oil that drips on the exhaust manifold, etc. You could and possibly do have a failing oil pump. You could have a small leak, with a failing oil pressure sensor and it could also be related to the idle being to low as well. Think about these and get back. Got tach in the car? What is the idle rpm?

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 11:16 AM

ROZYRY

MEMBER
6 POSTS

Every time I have checked the oil it seems to be where its suppose to be. I do remember that around three months after I last got an oil change, the oil was a little low. Which it shouldn't be that soon. Ever since I added oil, about two months ago, its been at the right level so far. I don't see any visible oil leaks but I had a friend look under the car about a month and 1/2 ago and he said there was a little bit of oil around the bottom of the engine(don't remember what its called, but it was the outside of where the oil is located.) I have not seen any leaks at all anywhere. Rpms are fine. Oh yeah, what is tach in the car?Thank you for your time

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Friday, February 2nd, 2007 AT 3:56 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

The tach is the tachomter. What is the normal idle for the car? Even a small leak can go unnoticed but if the oil that does drip lands on a very hot pipe (exhaust) it will give off the odor. This could be a leak of the oil pan or it could be a slight leak of the oil filter.

I want to know what the rpm is when the light flashes on the oil light. Then if it is above say 600 rpm and the light comes on, get an oil pressure check done. If the pressure is normal or within the range of acceptable pressure, I would replace the oil pressure sensor.

If there a knock of the engine when it is warm? Is there a knock of the engine when it is cold? This is your car and if you want to fix it, elaborate and help me. Get your hands dirty.

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Friday, February 2nd, 2007 AT 11:02 PM

ROZYRY

MEMBER
6 POSTS

It seems that after driving the car after 1hr. Straight the oil light turns on and the car seems a little weak. So I haven't drove it for that long in about 4 months now and the light doesn't turn on. The mechanic told me my engine was going out 5 months ago but I don't think that is the case because my car sound fine, starts up fine. The only thing I notice was it makes a knocking noise all the time which isn't too noticeable. He told me not to drive it more than about 60miles an hour in order for the engine not to go out so soon. I don't know whether to belive him. Can it be just my oil pump or oxygen sensor? Or the oil pressure sensor? I'm not sure, I'm a female who doesn't know much about cars(well, I know some but not enough)and I rely on this car in which I really can't afford to be ripped off by the mechanics who tell me more than what it is. Please help, thank you

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Saturday, May 12th, 2007 AT 12:55 AM

ROZYRY

MEMBER
6 POSTS

This last statement I made sounds like my old statements because I'm just getting back to this post after 5months or so. So I just stated what was on my mind about my car now. I know my engine won't last forever but will changing the things I mention make it last a little longer? At least enough for me to be able to drive it more than an hour at a time and over 60mph without worrying if the oil light will turn on or something worse? I really do appreciate any opinions on this.