91 Accord - "Change oil" indicator is on but....

....I had an oil change less than 3,000 miles ago, and also less than 3
months ago.

I have checked the oil gauge and it is fine. No leaks visible, and the
engine doesn't have a rubber or burning "smell".

Whatsupwiththat?

 

It could be that the computer thinks it's time for an oil change based on
the odometer reading. Check your manual.

 

What do you mean by "change oil indicator"? Are you talking about the oil
pressure light at the top of the cluster? Or do you mean the maintenance
required indicator below the tachometer? If the latter, stick your master
key in the keyhole (at the bottom left of the tach) to reset the reminder.

 

<< What do you mean by "change oil indicator"? Are you talking about
the oil
pressure light at the top of the cluster? Or do you mean the
maintenance
required indicator below the tachometer? >>

NOT the yellow 'maintenance required'. It's the 'red' one with what
looks like an oil jar/lamp.

 

Like with all cars, that light means that the oil pressure is abnormal. It
does not mean to top up or change the oil. Get the car to a mechanic now,
because the problem could get worse (and expensive to fix) if you delay.

 

reset the indicator.

 

If you're referring to the 'oil can' light, this means the pressure
isn't up to par. Hopefully the sensor is just bad. If it's accurate,
then depending on the level of pressure loss, the amount of damage
you're doing each time you run the engine could range from minor to
significant wear. Get it to a mechanic ASAP.
Aside from overheating, there isn't much worse you can do for your
engine than to run it with no oil or poor oil pressure. If I were you
I'd have the car towed if you think it's worth saving.

 

Ok, after looking at it closely again, and getting another opinion, it
looks like the car was low on oil.

So I manually added some oil (not a full change, just adding oil). The
indicator didn't go on this time.


Puzzling.

1) There is no leak.
2) My last oil change was in early April, and it was at 181 K (the car
is now at 183K).
3) In April, the car hadn't had an oil change in a LONG time, I'm
talking 6+ months. The indicator light didn't light up then though.

So why did the light go on this time in the first place?

Is it because it is a high-mileage car? Jiffy Lube changed the oil last
time, I wonder if it was something they did, but then still the light
didn't start flashing until this week.

 

----------------------------

The moral of the story might be: Check your oil regularly, like the Fine
owner's manual says. I try to remember to check it after each oil
change, since the guys at MonkeyLube are the same guys at MacDonalds
(they actually sell the same product)

'Curly'

 

Perhaps you have an internal oil leak such that you're burning some
oil? Do
you have the tell-tale plume of blue smoke when starting it or
accellerating?

- Justin

 

<< Perhaps you have an internal oil leak such that you're burning some
oil? Do you have the tell-tale plume of blue smoke when starting it or
accellerating? >>

Nope.

Bizzare.

 

---------------------------

If you're having unexplained oil consumtion, change your PCV. If it
sticks open, it will suck the vapor out like crazy and sometimes also
give poor idle symptoms. Use a Honda part.

'Curly'

 

Peace of mind?




Would you like headers with that?

 

<< 3) In April, the car hadn't had an oil change in a LONG time, I'm talking
6+ months. The indicator light didn't light up then though. >>


I just had my oil changed last week. Since then it was making that tale-tell
ticking-knocking sound -- always (with my car) an indicator that the oil is
a little low. I checked it, and sure enough it needed just 1/2 qt. Sound is
gone.
Point is, the place I had my oil changed didn't fill it to the level it
needed to be, or the level to which they normally do.