Oil light comes on when minivan idles?

Question

My oil light has begun coming on, but only when my car slows to an idle or stop, as soon as I begin to move, the light goes back off.

It is time for an oil change, but it has never done this before.

sometimes I can run errands for a few hours with no light, but after a few hours then the light will come on when the van idles.
It is a 2000 dodge caravan

I have checked the oil level, and it is just below max. there are no oil leak spots in my parking spot either.

83,000 miles on the vehicle

Answer 1

Most probably it is a defective oil pressure sending unit. These don't cost a lot and can be easily and quickly replaced.

If the light still comes on after you've replaced the sending unit then you do have low oil pressure and you need to find out why.

Answer 2

oil light means that you have either of two problems: the oil level is low or the oil pressure is low. Check the dipstick to see the level of the oil. Better have the oil changed as well and the gaskets checked as well. Especially if you have an old car, every 3 months or 20,000Km.

Answer 3

Low oil pressure from old, thin oil maybe or low oil level. Check oil level and top off. Change oil and filter every 3000 miles. High mileage vehicle?...may want to use thicker oil like 10w-30 or 10w-40 to keep oil pressure up...could be the oil pump wearing out or bearings starting to get worn also.

Answer 4

First do the cheap thing and check the oil level. It probably is not that but check it first anyway.

Assuming that was not the problem, it is probably your oil pump going. Get that replaced BEFORE it completely fails. Once it completely fails and you are on the HWY you will be driving WITHOUT any oil at all! After you will have major engine damage.

Then you will have to pay whatever garage who happens to tow you.

Depending on your minivan, they can usually replace the pump without removing the whole engine.


Good Luck.

Answer 5

nicely...low oil stress of course. it is fairly consumer-friendly on 4 cylinder autos with 100k+ miles. The bearing clearances at the instant are not to any extent further the comparable, the valve classes are taking off to placed on, etc. hence the oil pump can now no longer grant the stress required to lubricate all factors of the engine at idle velocity. the gentle is going off once you velocity up by way of fact the oil pump hastens and creates greater stress. think of of the oil pump by way of fact the human coronary heart, the slower it is going the less it pumps...the common "restoration" on your problem is to step up the oil weight class. A thicker oil will reinstate suited stress at low idle. it is not a permenant restoration by way of any skill, as cases is going on the bearings will placed on better as will all different moving areas interior the block leaving greater and bigger area for oil to fill. in the meanwhile bump up the oil weight, the gentle could pass off....if no longer there is no longer lots which could be finished exterior of doing a rebuild. As consistently shop an eye fixed on your oil consistency and stages between differences. in case you spot a stable deal of oil being burned or it starts off to look "burned" on the dipstick you will ought to evaluate a rebuild, a used engine, or a clean automobile! wish this permits!

Answer 6

first is to top up your engine with the same grade of engine oil your van uses.DO NOT PUT ANY OTHER OIL THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR YOUR AFTERSALES GARAGE.
second is to check the last time you had your oil changed. FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE MANUAL because they are the best people who will recommend what is next to prolong the life of your van.

Answer 7

Try a thicker oil when you change it.

Answer 8

change oil and FILTER