Oil Light Coming on. Engine light stays on

SPIRITOFVINCENNES

MEMBER
2005 SUZUKI FORENZA
130,350 MILES

It is time for an oil change but it isn't overdue. Small leakage from worn valve cover gasket. Dip stick reads full. Oil on stick is warm to the touch. At first the oil light would come on only when car was stopped. Then it stopped doing that. Later the check engine light came on and stayed on. Now once driven a few miles the oil light comes on as I am driving. I'm not hearing engine noises and no there's no clearly apparent loss of power. The gasket has been the same one for the past two years and the oil pressure light never came on.

I'm hoping it's the oil sensor light. I'm waiting for the part now. Could it be it be the valve cover gasket or something worse causing this or am I on the right track? Thanks for your help!

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

The oil warning light refers to oil pressure, not level. If there really is low oil pressure it is more likely to occur at low speeds and when idling, but a defective sending unit can cause that too. If you already have a new one coming, try that first. Normally we would check the actual pressure with a mechanical gauge to see what it really is.

Once the Check Engine light turned on there should be a diagnostic fault code in the Engine Computer. That will indicate the circuit or system that needs further diagnosis.

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Thursday, June 6th, 2013 AT 3:00 PM

SPIRITOFVINCENNES

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you for your quick reply! Are you saying that if the CEL stays on that I should have it hooked to diagnostics or is there a way for me to pull up the code myself; as was possible in earlier model cars?

The oil light has also came on at maybe close to 50 mph, and I pulled it over asap. It seems like once it gets warmed up the oil light comes on; first at stops and shortly later while driving.

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Thursday, June 6th, 2013 AT 3:28 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

Most cars need a scanner to get the codes. A lot of auto parts stores use simple code readers and they'll do that for you for free. I only know how to get the codes out of Chrysler products. They make it real easy by showing them in the odometer display.

I suspect the oil problem is related to the sending unit but I'd be more comfortable seeing good pressure on a mechanical gauge.

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Thursday, June 6th, 2013 AT 3:59 PM