I still have about 1500 miles before the sticker on the windshield of my car says I have to get my oil changed, but it's been doing funny stuff. I haven't checked it yet because I don't have time.

Whenever I slow down, the check engine oil light comes on. Also, if the engine is cold and just sitting idling, it also does it. Anyone know what causes this?

 

Don't drive the car when the oil pressure light has been ON. Start by checking whether the engine oil is low. If it is, add oil immediately and look for and locate an oil leak. Is smoke coming from the exhaust?

 

unless the light/senor is faulty, you need to verify that there is sufficient oil by using the dipstick. I would strongly discourage you from driving it until you see that it has sufficient oil. In my car, the oil light comes on when there is virtually no oil left.

 

It appears I have a small oil leak. Happens I guess.

 

Can you locate the leak? How low was the engine oil?

 

what scares me is how you know this

 

Many cars use or leak enough oil that thay can run out before the next scheduled oil change. Running more than a quart low is not good for your engine, it also concentrates all the wear and dirt into the small amount of oil that remains. So keep your oil level up. Check it at least every other time you fill up the gas tank, because leaks can develop unnoticed.

You really can't change the oil and then not think about oil again until the miles on the sticker come due, a lot of engines are killed that way.

The oil light on these cars is activated by pressure, not the level of oil. When the oil light comes on, that means the oil is so low that the oil pump is sucking air and the engine is getting NO oil. It is often too late to avoid damage by the time the light comes on.

 

Thanks MK for the helpful explanation.

Trust back to your question, the light only comes on for a split second after I do an oil change so I presume that it comes on with very little oil left. I never tested this theory for obvious reasons. =)

 

If you aren't already doing this when you do an oil change, it is recommended to pour new oil into the new filter before you put it on. Then the engine doesn't starve for oil as badly on the first start-up while the filter fills up.