Low Oil Light

nlindste · July 8, 2011

At what point should the low oil light come on? I just recently had an issue were my truck while driving on the highway developed a loud tapping noise. I managed to get the truck pulled over. It turns out my truck was 3.5 qts low on oil. I never had a low oil light come on or check engine light, the only warning I had was my truck making the tapping noise.

Nick

txab · July 8, 2011

Apparently you're not in the habit of checking your oil. Never rely on an idiot light

nlindste · July 8, 2011

Apparently you're not in the habit of checking your oil. Never rely on an idiot light

I generally do check my oil level. This was the first time I hadn't checked my oil in the time period between oil changes.

Nick

tanked_darren · July 8, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

nlindste · July 8, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

Fobroader · July 8, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

That sucks man, thats why I hate those oil life monitors, 6000miles is not 40% oil life. I think that most come on when/should come on when the oil is below the dispstick. Hope theres no permanent damage.

tanked_darren · July 8, 2011

You should be ok if this guy drove with no oil!

He ALSO had a 2009 Sierra!

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=118129

nlindste · July 8, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

That sucks man, thats why I hate those oil life monitors, 6000miles is not 40% oil life. I think that most come on when/should come on when the oil is below the dispstick. Hope theres no permanent damage.

The oil level was not registering on the dip-stick. I avoid using the oil life monitor and only use synthetic in my truck.

nlindste · July 8, 2011

You should be ok if this guy drove with no oil!
He ALSO had a 2009 Sierra!

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=118129

That is crazy and hard to believe.

dewfpo · July 9, 2011

I had the "Low Oil" light come on my '05 2500HD and it was about 1 qt. below the lowest 'add' mark. The light is set to come on before you do any damage. If you checked the oil level immediately after you pulled over it reads even lower than actual due to oil adhering to parts and not making it's way back to the pan yet. I find you need to let it sit at least 20 minutes to get a reasonably accurate oil level reading (even after adding new oil).

Many here have had the low oil level light come on and all of us were indeed a little low, but no damage was done.

DEWFPO

old-chevy-dude · July 9, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

That sucks man, thats why I hate those oil life monitors, 6000miles is not 40% oil life. I think that most come on when/should come on when the oil is below the dispstick. Hope theres no permanent damage.

says who? Jiffy Lube? Your friendly bend you over and rip you off every 3,000 miles for oil Dealership?

with today's oil and motors 6,000 miles could very well be 40%, I'm near 8,000 (on synthetic) and mine is at 22%, my oil is still a nice carmel color, I will be changing it tomorrow because 7 - 8k is my limit, but in all the oil analysis I have had done on several cars over the past 6 years 8K - 10K or comes back just fine (on synthetic).

All depends on the type of driving you do, where you live, and the type of oil you use.. But with synthetic 10,000 is doable (and the OP didn't state what type of oil he uses)

nlindste · July 9, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

That sucks man, thats why I hate those oil life monitors, 6000miles is not 40% oil life. I think that most come on when/should come on when the oil is below the dispstick. Hope theres no permanent damage.

says who? Jiffy Lube? Your friendly bend you over and rip you off every 3,000 miles for oil Dealership?

with today's oil and motors 6,000 miles could very well be 40%, I'm near 8,000 (on synthetic) and mine is at 22%, my oil is still a nice carmel color, I will be changing it tomorrow because 7 - 8k is my limit, but in all the oil analysis I have had done on several cars over the past 6 years 8K - 10K or comes back just fine (on synthetic).

All depends on the type of driving you do, where you live, and the type of oil you use.. But with synthetic 10,000 is doable (and the OP didn't state what type of oil he uses)

I run Mobil 1 Synthetic and a Delco filter. Most of the miles between oil changes have been highway trips with one trip to Florida and back to NJ.

old-chevy-dude · July 9, 2011

How long ago did you change your oil? Is the filter tight? Is the drain plug tight? You know the answer to the question "when should the oil light come on"

Uhhh never?

6,000 mi, I was at 40% on the oil life monitor, the drain plug and filter were tight. I know it should never come on, but at what point is the sensor triggered?

That sucks man, thats why I hate those oil life monitors, 6000miles is not 40% oil life. I think that most come on when/should come on when the oil is below the dispstick. Hope theres no permanent damage.

says who? Jiffy Lube? Your friendly bend you over and rip you off every 3,000 miles for oil Dealership?

with today's oil and motors 6,000 miles could very well be 40%, I'm near 8,000 (on synthetic) and mine is at 22%, my oil is still a nice carmel color, I will be changing it tomorrow because 7 - 8k is my limit, but in all the oil analysis I have had done on several cars over the past 6 years 8K - 10K or comes back just fine (on synthetic).

All depends on the type of driving you do, where you live, and the type of oil you use.. But with synthetic 10,000 is doable (and the OP didn't state what type of oil he uses)

I run Mobil 1 Synthetic and a Delco filter. Most of the miles between oil changes have been highway trips with one trip to Florida and back to NJ.

I'd say you are about right on the 6,000:40% mark based on how my moms 2003 Caddy Deville and My 2010 Avalanche both calculate on synthetic oil.. like I said I usually see 8k - 10k without issues and I have my oil analyzed at least once a year.

as for the oil loss thing, I wonder if you fall under that whole "oil consumption" debate going on.

nlindste · July 9, 2011