Should I do an engine swap or fix a low engine oil pressure problem?
I have a 98 Base model and bought it last summer. I noticed the rear and the bottom of the engine wet all the time and my mechanic suggested I change the head gasket. When he opened up the head, he noticed one of the pieces that holds the bolt from the top of the head was broken and that was why the engine was leaking oil. He said I need to replace the whole head to fix the problem. I ended up fixing it with the reconditioned head I got it from eBay. The whole job costed me $1,400. I had that done last December.
Since then the car was running fine for about 3 months. Then I started to notice low engine oil light flickering and the engine even stalled a couple of times when I stopped for the light. I notice the flickering light only after I drive on a highway for about 30 minutes, i.e. when the engine is totally warmed up. If I drive it to a local store to get something, the light never comes on. Also, when the light flickers, the rpm is really low at about 400-500.
I searched the forum for low engine oil pressure and there were a lot of discussion about the possible cause, but it seems like this is something that might take long time to diagnose correctly.
So, here are my questions.
1. Why does the engine oil pressure become low and the light flickers only when the engine is warmed up?
2. If I drive it locally only where I would never see the light come on, do I not have the problem?
3. Everyone says the low engine oil pressure is something bad and eventually the engine will quit on me. Is this true, will my engine die eventually if I ignore it?
4. Wouldn't it be better if I wait until my engine dies and do an engine swap instead of trying to fix this problem now? I know a place locally who would do an engine swap for about $1,700. I know the used engine may give me problems too, but is that a better choice?
Thanks for any insight you might be able to share in advance.
Maybe You could switch to a Heavier Weight oil since it's an older engine it would burn the lighter oil alot quicker. I already switched my engine to 10w - 30
My engine does consume some oil. Since I had the head job done, about two months later, I had to add about 1 quart. After another month, I had to add about 1/2 quart. But, my mechanic put in a regular conventional oil. About two weeks ago, I did the oil change with Mobil 1 (5W-30). I also added "RESTORE" engine oil additive.
I checked the oil level just now, it is just right and the light still comes on.
I will try 10W-30 next time I do my oil change,.
The follow up question I have on the oil pressure sensor is if the oil pressure sensor is bad, will low engine oil light flicker or be solidly on?
The low RPM (around 400-500) indicate anything?
Thanks all to those who read and especially replied. I really appreciate it!
Then if you still get the light, it is probably the oil pump.
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Something strange happened today. As I was coming home after driving on a highway for about 30 minutes, I expected the low engine light to start flickering. Yes, indeed, it started flickering, but it also started blinking at a constant interval, like every second. It was happenning at any RPM, where as the flickering only happens at a low RPM. I really didn't notice any difference in how she drove or how engine sounded. I pulled over and shut down the engine. After few minutes, I started the car again. The light started to flicker, but not blink any more.
Does blinking mean anything different than flickering?
Yesterday, I intentionally drove slowly; the rpm never went over 3,500 and most of the time not over 3,000. On the way to work, which is about 20 miles with about 16 miles highway, I got a slight flickering and on the way back home, I did not get any flickering of the low engine oil light.
First off quit driving the car if the oil light is coming on when there is oil in the car, my lovely wife did just that when i was out on deployment her excuse was she thought the light was broke because she put oil in and the level was correct on the dip, took the car to a shop and on the way over noticed the engine was making this sweet knocking noise kinda like the sound of death knocking at my cars door, mechanic confirmed with a handfull of metal shavings from the oil pan, oil pump was toast and rod bearings were being shredded on the crank. Dont be a dumb B^$#h and quit driving with the damn oil light blinking.
First off quit driving the car if the oil light is coming on when there is oil in the car, my lovely wife did just that when i was out on deployment her excuse was she thought the light was broke because she put oil in and the level was correct on the dip, took the car to a shop and on the way over noticed the engine was making this sweet knocking noise kinda like the sound of death knocking at my cars door, mechanic confirmed with a handfull of metal shavings from the oil pan, oil pump was toast and rod bearings were being shredded on the crank. Dont be a dumb B^$#h and quit driving with the damn oil light blinking.
The only thing I can notice is the flickering warning light. There is no knocking sound coming from the engine or any other weird sounds.
I am planning on replacing the oil pressure switch. Is that a DIY?
Also, I wish I could afford not driving my car as skyyskyy suggested, but I need to go to work and car is the only way for me to get to work. There is no public transportation I could use to get to work. I am nervous every day, but I feel I have no choice. I need to make and save more money to keep my Prelude alive.
Another thing I am trying to avoid is throwing money in a bottomless pit. I have already spent close $2,000 on the engine and I feel like I could have done an engine swap with that kind of money. I surely hoped that was the last time I spent big bucks, but I am having this problem now. I don't want to spend another $600-$700 buck to replace the oil pump to find out there might be another problem.
The previous owner was a Preludeonline member and he had some sound problem with the engine in the past. Although, I am not sure if it is related. 98 Constant Vibrating Noise
My mechanic did tell me they did something to the pulley and won't be able to replace the timing belt the next time. I don't know what he means. Since it was replaced at around 100K, I figure I have another 80-90K to go.
If your oil pressure was actually low because of a bad oil pump and you been driving it like that, the engine probably would have seized or you would have spun a bearing by now. Since it still runs, it is almost certainly the the oil pressure sensor.
I do apologise for the harsh words, not having another option but to drive her and hope for the best must be a terrible feeling. Good luck and hope its just a simple sensor.
I just changed the sensor, but I still get the light. Sometimes, it flickers at the low rpm and sometimes it blinks at a constant interval as well as flickers.
That sucks. You either have a weak electrical connection somewhere upstream of that sensor, or more likely it is in fact your oil pump. It still might be worth a trip to a good mechanic before you start saving for the swap though...
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to this site but I'm not RICE
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That sucks. You either have a weak electrical connection somewhere upstream of that sensor, or more likely it is in fact your oil pump. It still might be worth a trip to a good mechanic before you start saving for the swap though...
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