Intermittent, dim OPI light comming on.

[mittim]

I’ve searched though the forum but I haven’t seen anything that really helps, so hopefully someone here can answer my questions.

 

 

Car Stats: 2004 Impreza Wagon, 70,000Km

 

Problem: Very dim intermittent oil pressure light going on (once last month, 3 times this week). When the light is on I’ve noticed that the oil gets sucked into engine but doesn’t circulate, showing no oil level on the dipstick. Problem goes away when some oil added, or oil warms up, then everything starts working fine again. Only happened on cool wet days.

 

 

The long story:

 

Last month when I started my car the oil pressure light stayed on but was dim. I turned off the car, checked the stick and it showed really low. I added some oil, started the car and the light stayed off. I then immediately took the car for an oil change and had no problems until last week.

 

 

Since bringing the car for the change I’ve been religiously checking the stick again and the oil level (level stayed steady) so it took me by surprise when one morning the OPI light went on dimly. Once again I checked the stick and it said I had no oil. I added a little bit of oil and the light slowly dimmed off. I made an appointment with the dealer and planned to bring the car in the next day. Before I stated the car the next day I checked the oil – Middle of the stick but when I started the car the OPI light still stayed on (dimly). What’s strange is that when I checked the stick again it said I had no oil.

 

 

So once again I top up oil bring the car to the dealer and they can’t find anything wrong with the car at all, “everything is perfect take it home.” The car is dry and there are no faults in the computer.

 

 

Looking back I noticed that the only similarities are that each day it happened it was a cool wet day (possible electrical problem). When the oil warmed up, or oil was added the light goes away.

 

 

I am concerned that if I keep driving around I can damage the engine, and I have to admit that I’m a little annoyed that the dealer can’t suggest a “next step” to define or solve the problem.

 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[nipper]

You check the oil with the car off as the dipstick can show anyehre from nooil to overfilled dependeing upon the make of car. Shut the car off for 5 minutes (usually long enough) then check the oil level. If im correct 70,000Kilometers is about 42,000 miles.

Is your oil brown or milky white? Does it smell like gas. DO you have an ex girlfreind who is screwing with your head

 

i cant think of how oil can disapear then reapeer. maybe some sort of vaum lock in the engie, no idea im reaching here so dont tell me im nuts

i would suggest an oil pressure gauge first to see if there is a pattern, ryhm or reason, or just gremlins. It would confirm or rule out the switch

 

Of course then there is the other question, you are parking on level ground when you check the oil

 

 

nipper

[Cougar]

This is pretty strange. I don't see how 4 quarts of oil just disappears. The engine can't hold anything near that amount inside it. There is a section I think that oil can get mixed with the transmission fluid if there is a problem. Have you checked the tranny fluid to see if it is ok?

 

I assume you are checking the level while the vehicle is off, on a level surface, and the dip stick is all the way down in the tube before it is pulled out to check.

[mittim]

 

You check the oil with the car off as the dipstick can show anyehre from nooil to overfilled dependeing upon the make of car. Shut the car off for 5 minutes (usually long enough) then check the oil level. If im correct 70,000Kilometers is about 42,000 miles.

Is your oil brown or milky white? Does it smell like gas. DO you have an ex girlfreind who is screwing with your head

 

 

Oil looks good (it was recently changed), no ex-girlfriend. On the days that it happened I checked the oil before I started the car and it was midstick (it was on a level surface by the way). With the engine running for a couple of min the stick showed no oil.

 

 

This is pretty strange. I don't see how 4 quarts of oil just disappears

 

What’s stranger is that it comes back and this has only happened on cool damp days. The rest of the time things (oil level ,light etc) all act normally.

[nipper]

well with the engine running the stick can look like there is no oil on it. cool damp days ... move to the sahara ? and there is no place for that oil to hide, unless somehow some of it is getting caught in the valve covers...im puzzled

 

 

 

nipper

[frag]

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Oil looks good (it was recently changed), no ex-girlfriend. On the days that it happened I checked the oil before I started the car and it was midstick (it was on a level surface by the way). With the engine running for a couple of min the stick showed no oil.

.

Do you mean you then check the oil while the engine is running? If so, it's normal that nothing registers.

[mittim]

Do you mean you then check the oil while the engine is running? If so, it's normal that nothing registers.

Nope the engine was stopped at the time I checked.

 

I noticed your from montreal. What's your experience with Subaru Auto Centre. That's were the car is now. They didn't find anything (which is the problem with intermittent things) but the fact that they can't suggest a "next step" and told me to just take the car home has me feeling a little annoyed.

[frag]

Nope the engine was stopped at the time I checked.

 

I noticed your from montreal. What's your experience with Subaru Auto Centre. That's were the car is now. They didn't find anything (which is the problem with intermittent things) but the fact that they can't suggest a "next step" and told me to just take the car home has me feeling a little annoyed.

 

I'm sorry but I have none. I do my own maintenance and repairs and do business, for parts, with Scotti on Jarry. I had them replace a wheel bearing on my former Loyale a few years ago and they did a good job at a fair price. If you ever go there insist that your car be taken care off by Thierry.

Hope I will me of more help next time .