low oil pressure, stop engine warning

clf2427 · October 8, 2014

Got this warning on my 08 suburban with 85K on it this morning. I was about 20 miles into my commute so managed to weave myself out of traffic and into a gas station. I checked the oil stick..wiped it clean after pulling it out and after taking it back out it was pretty much dry, not much to wipe off at all....so I went and bought 5 qts of oil and put it in....now thinking about it I shouldn't have put in that much but my thought was if it was on empty and it usually takes 5 that it would be enough to get me to work. I was a hr late to work so did not check it again but I will here at lunch...I plan on taking it to get the oil changed today but wondering if I should just take it to the dealer now? I am reading it may be the oil sending unit, oil pressure sensor or some screen clogged? I do have a extended warranty so that's why I was going to take it to the dealer.

Thoughts?

Doug_Scott · October 8, 2014

Did you add the oil one quart at a time, checking the level between bottles, or did you just dump the 5 quarts in? Did you check the level of the oil after putting the 5 bottles in, and if so, where was the level on the stick? When was the last time you checked the oil?

You are likely in for a surprise when you get to the dealer and tell them what happened. Your warranty will likely be voided, unless there is a hole somewhere in the oiling system that was caused by something happening inside the engine letting all the oil out of the engine. Not checking the oil level, and not maintaining correct oil level are reasons for denying warranty claims for low oil pressure damages.

Are there any noises from engine now?

clf2427 · October 8, 2014

#1) I got the message that stop engine, low oil pressure. gauge is reading 0.

#2) I pulled over, pulled out stick in which it did have some oil on it, cleaned it, put it back in and got nothing on the rewipe. In hindsight, I should have checked it again but its 6:30 in morning, Im late for work, its rush hour, its dark, I am in the ghetto at a station that is very shady.

#3) With the two clues in mind, I thought the engine was about to burn up due to no oil...

I did not check the oil after I filled it, I drove the 15 miles to work...I just went and checked it and it indeed is high so I don't know what happened...if its even possible to not get any oil if its just low and hot...I am going at lunch to get the oil changed....but still leaves with what caused the problem in the first place.

clf2427 · October 8, 2014

I just took the vehicle and had them change out the oil and filter so I guess we will see if the message comes back saying low pressure.

Doug_Scott · October 8, 2014

The oil dipstick does not reach bottom of pan. Used to be the dipstick would only show about the top 2 quarts of oil in pan. Once the stick became dry, it would take a minimum of two quarts to show on the stick again. Oil pressure should not be zero as long as there is 3 quarts of oil in it. And by then, damage has happened.

Once the engine starts, oil level in pan will drop as oil gets pumped about the engine. If for some the oil level light did not come on, and you did manage to get the oil level below the pickup, it would take near all 5 quarts to get proper level. You sure the warning did not say "Oil level low"?

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · October 8, 2014

Well the dipstick will have oil on it right after driving it. But, to check it accurately you're supposed to wait a good 30 minutes for the oil to run back into the pan. As Doug mentioned, a dipstick only shows 1-2 quarts so if there's nothing on it then it might only need 1-2 quarts. I understand you were late for work, but shouldn't have dumped all 5 quarts in. I would have put 2 in there at first so it wouldn't be too much. If you have too much then you can blow head gaskets and I think the oil might not be able to circulate through the engine like it should. Also since you didn't let the oil drip back into the pan you don't know if it was even low in oil. Low oil pressure could be something other than not enough oil.

gmtech4 · October 9, 2014

i had a car in mt bay up north ...the engine was rockin back and forth bein a real POS ,,,,no codes ,,,i called the GM crack line and the guy said "check the oil level",i did and it was way high on the stick,,,,,,,i drained it down the full mark and engine ran fine ,,,,,,,,,seems when the crank throws hit oil it creates a bit a stumble lol

so i think he was fine ,,,blowing head gasket statement makes no sense at all,,,,,,

OP,so is it leaking anywhere ?,did ya yake a peak under the truck at least ?,,,,

ill beet ya a dollar you'll check your oil now and again after your little adventure lol

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · October 9, 2014

so i think he was fine ,,,blowing head gasket statement makes no sense at all,,,,,,

It's just what I've heard if you put way too much oil in the engine.

clf2427 · October 9, 2014

That is the message I got

Yeah I panicked, I should have just put in two quarts and rechecked it. What I don't understand is with too much oil it, shouldn't the gauge have read high?

And yes I will do a better job of checking the oil...I'm wondering if it wasn't low after my last oil change..

So would the oil pressure sensor be the main culprit for giving me a bad reading?

gmtech4 · October 9, 2014

,

That is the message I got

Yeah I panicked, I should have just put in two quarts and rechecked it. What I don't understand is with too much oil it, shouldn't the gauge have read high?

And yes I will do a better job of checking the oil...I'm wondering if it wasn't low after my last oil change..

So would the oil pressure sensor be the main culprit for giving me a bad reading?

Having a shop install a mechanical gauge to the engine takes all doubt of the situation ,

High oil level doesn't make higher oil pressure ( it's what I read in your post )

And who knows about about the middle para,,

You have to get under the truck with an illuminating devise and look for a leak before we go any further cuz it's all speculation so far ,, rite?

Doug_Scott · October 9, 2014

It's just what I've heard if you put way too much oil in the engine.

Who ever said that was just plain wrong. Oil level has nothing to do with oil pressure, unless there is no oil, then you get 0 oil pressure.

Overfilling does not damage gaskets or seals. It does not increase oil pressure. When I say overfilling, I mean overfull by and inch or two on the stick. If there are 5 or 6 extra quarts in the engine, it will likely be beaten to a froth by the crank, and that will actually lower the oil pressure, but not by the extra oil, it will be lower due air being beaten into the oil. You also need to remember that as soon as the engine starts, the oil level in the pan will drop.

An interesting thing about this overfilling issue, back in the 70's my buddy had a 71 Hemi 'Cuda. He wanted to go drag racing. We ran into a guy in Michigan on the way back from US Nationals. At the time this guy held the B Stock Auto record with a hemi 'cuda. Back then you had to run factory stock sheet metal on the engine. He toasted a few engines when he first started running seriously. The failures all pointed at the pump failing, or the pressure valve releasing at too low a pressure. The engines all looked like they starved for oil. Turned out to be the factory oil pan did not hold enough oil to feed the engine at high rpm with a high volume oil pump. He ended up running the hemi with two extra quarts in the pan. Never had a pan run dry again. Engine dyno runs did not pick this up either, the pan was empty as he crossed finish line. Engine dyno runs were not run that long at peak rpm

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · October 9, 2014

Who ever said that was just plain wrong. Oil level has nothing to do with oil pressure, unless there is no oil, then you get 0 oil pressure.

Overfilling does not damage gaskets or seals. It does not increase oil pressure. When I say overfilling, I mean overfull by and inch or two on the stick. If there are 5 or 6 extra quarts in the engine, it will likely be beaten to a froth by the crank, and that will actually lower the oil pressure, but not by the extra oil, it will be lower due air being beaten into the oil. You also need to remember that as soon as the engine starts, the oil level in the pan will drop.

I know more oil doesn't mean more oil pressure. It was just something I've heard when I was younger. I was also gullible when I was younger so I guess some things I was told to me around 15 years ago (when I started to get into cars and learn about them) I still believe. I don't mind being told I'm wrong if it's nothing that I know for sure. I think the reason I believed it is because I figured the oil wouldn't be able to circulate like it should which means the engine would start to overheat then that would cause a head gasket to blow. That could be completely wrong, just what I figured might be why it was true. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong.

Doug_Scott · October 9, 2014

I tend to question anything that does not make sense to me. I also prefer to explain my reasoning in the hopes it helps someone understand what I mean, and where it is coming from.

clf2427 · October 9, 2014

Apparently it wasn't leaking, I got the error message and checked the stick which didn't have any oil on it. Now I am hearing that if its hot and low on oil that it may not show on the stick? I should have just added 2 qts instead of 5.

Doug_Scott · October 9, 2014

Apparently it wasn't leaking, I got the error message and checked the stick which didn't have any oil on it. Now I am hearing that if its hot and low on oil that it may not show on the stick? I should have just added 2 qts instead of 5.

Cold engine oil level will read slightly lower on the stick than hot engine oil level, simply to do with contraction due to cold (see George swimming in the Hamptons episode of Seinfeld for example). Dipsticks used to have a cold full level and hot full level marks. I always figured the full line was for normal operating temps since that is what the engine usually runs at. A cold, not running, engine does not need any oil.