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Either the oil psi sensor (for the oil dummy light) is going bad, the wire from the sensor to the oil dummy light is grounding on something (dummy lights usually work on the principle of a ground) or you have an oil psi issue (can be caused by worn main bearings).
Best thing to do at this point is install a mechanical oil psi gauge (that's accurate) to the engine and drive the car like you typically would. The rule of thumb is 10 psi of oil per 1000 rpms of engine speed.
My " Change Oil Soon" light has come on even though I had the oil changed 1,000 miles ago last December. The level looks right at the top so I didn't add any. It even looks good, not dark.
Should I wait another 2,000 miles and 3 months or so or try to reset the oil sensor? I remember its pumping the brake with the ignition key in.
If the OP's "oil light" is the typical Oil Pressure Warning Light, and not a light telling him to change his oil, then he/she is woefully misinformed if he/she thinks that this only portends a low oil level.
When an Oil Pressure Warning Light starts lighting up on your dashboard, it should not be taken lightly. Yes, the first thing to do is to check the oil level, but if the oil level is normal, then the next step should be to have the actual oil pressure measured by a competent mechanic. (Please note: Competent does NOT include the likes of Pep Boys, Midas, Meineke, Monro, Sears, AAMCO, Firestone, or any other chain operation.)
If the engine's oil pressure is actually low, the OP risks serious damage to the engine's bearings and other sensitive areas of the engine. If the oil pressure can be verified as being in the normal range, then it is likely that there is merely a loose electrical connection at the oil pressure sensor. For the OP's sake, I hope that this is the case!
If the engine's oil pressure is low, that could be the result of a failing oil pump, although that is a very rare occurrence. More likely causes of low oil pressure include excessively worn bearings or a build-up of oil sludge on the oil pickup screen and/or in other parts of the engine.
Yes, I know that the OP claims that the oil is changed on an appropriate schedule, but I have found many folks whose driving patterns actually mandate that the oil be changed according to the Severe Service maintenance schedule, but their adherence to the "regular" maintenance schedule caused engine damage as a result of sludge build-up. If this vehicle is driven primarily in local, short-trips, the oil should be changed on the basis of elapsed time, rather than on the basis of odometer mileage, and there are cases of vehicles that are driven only locally where the oil should be changed every 4 months, regardless of how few miles the vehicle was driven in that timespan.
Either sensor is fubar or your oil pump is clogged/going out.
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Have oil changed every 3000 miles....Changed on regular basis......van has 158000 miles on it and is maintained.....
