Blinking Oil Light 7 RPM Fluctuating

[DigDeez]

Recently my Oil Light has been blinking vigorously at times. While the car is running, but not driving, the rpm jumps from about 800rpm to 1000rpm all while the Oil Light starts blinking rapidly for 1 or 2 seconds. Then after a second, the rpm goes back to about 800rpm. This sequence seems to be happening every 2 minutes or so.

Thoughts?

 

[sho'd]

usually a blinking oil light means bad rod bearings, or worn for that matter, does it flicker when it is low idle, and is it the red oil light or the amber one?

 

[blacklabel]

I think that means it is time to change the rod bearings ASAP.

 

[hawkeye18]

If the yellow oil light is blinking, you're low on oil. Put some more in, silly !

If the red oil light is blinking, stop the car. DO NOT start it up again. If you do, you will very likely throw a rod bearing, which will, with 90% probability, toast your engine beyond repair. It may already be too late. The red light means your pressure is too low, and when pressure gets low the rod bearings go bye-bye :wave:.

Changing the rod bearings is simple and (relatively) easy. All you have to do is take the oil pan off. If you have it towed to a shop that knows their SHO from a hole in the ground, they should be able to do it in under an hour.

When a rod bearing goes bad, it scores the crank. When the crank gets scored, it becomes unusable, unless you have it ground down and put oversized rod bearings in. Often, a new (used) engine is cheaper.

 

[DigDeez]

I just had a used tranny put in it. This sucks if the engine is going out. More money down the drain; money I don't have. With all the hard starting recently, and all the scary noises that's been coming from the engine from trying to get it to start, it just may be too late for new rod bearings. Loud pops and clangs and bangs. When it finally turns over, the power is still there though. If the oil pressure is too low, can this be because of a bad sensor or something?

What should I do?

 

[SeanMc]

Could be a bad sender. My car's RPMs will dip occasionally, and when it goes down to 300rpm, the light will flicker. I just don't get it while driving or when it's at idle. Check your oil level too.

 

[hawkeye18]

Well if you're mechanically inclined, rod bearings are also really cheap. ~$30 IIRC. That and a tube of RTV and you're good to go.

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

First and foremost, change the oil to 10W30 then during the change, check the old oil for shiney stuff. I have seen folks who take their cars to the dealer or other places and find they use 5w-20....horrid oil for our cars. The oil light comes on when the car is hot.

Rod bearings are a bit more expensive than 30 bucks...more like 59 bucks for the clevite set, you will need a new oil pan gasket 16.00 some rtv, and some new paper gasket material for the pick up tube.

 

[luigisho]

The oil light will also come on when the RPM gets below a certain level. The oil pump is mechanically turned by the motor and flow is greatly reduced at low rpms. I would try the sender first and then go to the bearings. If you have the original rod bearings then you are due for a replacement set. Also check the screen at the pickup tube.