02 Sierra Oil Sensor Bad?

fj82 · March 24, 2011

Hi all,

First time post, glad to be on board.

I purchased a used 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 w/ 5.3l back in June. I've changed the oil in it three times now, the most recent being just today. The last time I was on a trip out of state and due to business I ended up staying longer than I had anticpated, and took the truck to a Penzoil oil change shop in the town I was staying in. About 1500 miles in to that oil change the "Check Eng Oil Level" light in the message center turned on. I checked the oil level via dipstick, and it was fine. I restarted the truck and message went away. About a week later the message came back, and after a few engine start/stop cycles, it went away again. Two weeks ago the message would not go away- I was due for a change anyway and performed the change just now myself. After finishing the change, doing the little accelerator pedal deal to get the "change oil" message to go away, the oil level message is still there. The manual said to let the engine warm up and cycle a start/stop to ensure the sensor was aware of the new oil and that should remedy the problem, but the message still pops up every time after starting. I'm know my way around vehicles and have worked on them for years but this is my first newer GM vehcile and I'm unfamilar with the message center and the sensors that send it it's data. I have no OBDII diag tool but was planning on running up to the local napa and see if they have one. Does this sound like a bad sensor to you more "seasoned" GM guys?

Short version- changed oil twice and truck continues to say check oil level. Unsure of potential bad sensor, or how to fix.

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oneillt · March 24, 2011

Your sierra has an oil life monitor, and it needs to be reset when you do your oil changes. It cannot sense when an oil change has been performed so you need to reset it. I believe to reset it you turn you key to the ON position (dont start the truck) and press the gas pedal to the floor three times for 5 seconds. Someone will come along to tell you all about it.

*edit* Also there is no oil sensor, the computer calculates when an oil change needs to be done by calculating engine use and outside conditions,

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...true#Post130036

fj82 · March 24, 2011

Your sierra has an oil life monitor, and it needs to be reset when you do your oil changes. It cannot sense when an oil change has been performed so you need to reset it. I believe to reset it you turn you key to the ON position (dont start the truck) and press the gas pedal to the floor three times for 5 seconds. Someone will come along to tell you all about it.
*edit* Also there is no oil sensor, the computer calculates when an oil change needs to be done by calculating engine use and outside conditions,

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...true#Post130036

I've actually done that as I mentoined above (maybe I wasn't clear on that, apologies). The "Change oil" message has gone away after the change, as it should; it's the recurrence of the "Check eng oil level" that is persistent and has gone from an intermittent to an ongoing issue these past two changes.

Thanks!

txab · March 24, 2011

If you're full on oil and your check engine oil level is going off, then it's a good bet that the sensor has gone bad or the wiring has a problem

[email protected] · March 24, 2011

The sensor is on the side of the oilpan, it's a simple hall effect sensor, I don't see how it could mess up, but unplug it and your light should stay out. If that works, try to replace it. I think it's on the right near the starter but I could be wrong, don't confuse it with ckps.