A oil change was done to my 02 Saturn, about 3 weeks ago by a gas station mechanic. Tonite driving home from work (late nite with little traffic, maybe a 15 minute ride) the oil light came on. About a mile from my house the car became very sluggish. It did not stall out and the oil light would only come on when I would stop for a light. I did make it home OK but the last half mile the car felt like it did not want to go over 30 miles an hour. I know the car probably needs a thermostat. My questions are is it possible the mechanic did not put enough oil in it or is it related to the thermostat or something else entirely. Is it safe to drive to a gas station to have it looked at? Any help would be appreciated, I need my car for work. THANKS!!!
2007-10-19 18:40:01 · 6 answers · asked by paul s 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
In the morning, open the hood and remove the engine oil dipstick as shown in your car's owner's manual. It's color should be yellow (like the color of fresh oil). The transmission dipstick is red like the color of fresh transmission fluid. Wipe off all the oil off the dipstick with a paper towel and reinsert it. The withdraw the dipstick slowly to see if you need to add oil. If there's no oil on the dipstick, start by putting one quart of oil in and keep checking the dipstick level while gradually adding more oil a little at a time. Then start the engine and see if the red oil light stays off. If it's full of oil and the red light is still coming on, don't drive the car. Call the garage and ask them what to do.
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2007-10-19 18:53:55 · answer #1 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First thing to do is pop the hood and check the oil dipstick to see if your oil level is within the specified target.
If the oil is not in the specified range, go get oil. (Do so with another car!) When the oil light is lit, you should immediately stop to prevent damage to the bearings and rings. (Which you may have already damaged with you driving and the oil light flickering on). I would be hard pressed to believe the mechanic didn't put enough oil and for it to show up 3 weeks later. However, it is possible that he didn't seal the drain plug well, and you've had a small oil leak all this time. Check for oil spots where you've been parking.
If the oil is within specifications, then other reasons for the oil light to come on are a failing oil pump or a bad oil pressure sending unit.
Typically a thermostat has very little to do with the oil and the oil light lighting up. However if you're temperature light also came one, then you may have a blown head gasket, which could very well make the car feel slugish as a cylinder wouldn't be working at all.
2007-10-19 18:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should always check the oil after it has been changed. Just a precaution the mechanic didn't get distracted and forget to put enough oil back in the engine.
The oil light warns of a very serious problem and usually means oil is not present in the engine. Check the drain plug and ad oil if necessary. This car should not be driven until you can confirm there is sufficient oil in the engine.
2007-10-20 03:07:35 · answer #3 · answered by Alanrt1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First after letting it sit over night.Before you drive it check the oil.If it is really low and you know where to find the drain plug,its under the car on the back of the pan that is on the bottom of the engine,look and see if its there or if its loose.If all that checks out,then drive it back to the place that changed it.P.S. Don't let them talk you into paying any more money.
2007-10-19 18:48:25 · answer #4 · answered by cog1233 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i guess before you take it back check the oil if it shows on the dipstick thats good see if it still looks like oil or its contaminated this way you know if it is low on oil and if there is something terribly wrong... it does not sound good but you never know... the best thing would be to tow it since you dont want to create more problems
2007-10-19 18:47:22 · answer #5 · answered by henrysol 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is not any challenge. The motor vehicle is regulate its temper because it became into made to do. The coolin fan come on and the rpm's circulate as much as pump greater water interior the path of the cool equipment. whilst it cool's down the fan is going off and the rpm's come down. whilst you're shifting the air rushing interior the path of the radiator keepes it cooled down. So the cooling fan does not run. that's the comparable with the ac. Ho the ac run's interior the wintry climate with the heater. examine your cooling point and good it off to the chilly line on the fill bottle.
2016-12-29 19:19:53 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋