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

Discussion in 'Accord' started by madrox99, May 10, 2005.

  1. madrox99

    madrox99 Guest

    ....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?
     
    madrox99, May 10, 2005
    #1
  2. madrox99

    bearman Guest

    It could be that the computer thinks it's time for an oil change based on
    the odometer reading. Check your manual.
     
    bearman, May 10, 2005
    #2
  3. madrox99

    S.S. Guest

    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.
     
    S.S., May 10, 2005
    #3
  4. madrox99

    madrox99 Guest

    << 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.
     
    madrox99, May 10, 2005
    #4
  5. madrox99

    S.S. Guest

    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.
     
    S.S., May 10, 2005
    #5
  6. madrox99

    SoCalMike Guest

    reset the indicator.
     
    SoCalMike, May 11, 2005
    #6
  7. 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.
     
    justinreigle (at) gmail (dot) com, May 11, 2005
    #7
  8. madrox99

    madrox99 Guest

    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.
     
    madrox99, May 12, 2005
    #8
  9. madrox99

    motsco_ _ Guest


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

    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'
     
    motsco_ _, May 12, 2005
    #9
  10. 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
     
    justinreigle (at) gmail (dot) com, May 12, 2005
    #10
  11. madrox99

    madrox99 Guest

    << 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.
     
    madrox99, May 12, 2005
    #11
  12. madrox99

    motsco_ _ Guest


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

    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'
     
    motsco_ _, May 13, 2005
    #12
  13. Peace of mind?

    ;)


    Would you like headers with that?
     
    Sparky Spartacus, May 15, 2005
    #13
  14. madrox99

    Dee Guest

    << 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.
     
    Dee, May 15, 2005
    #14
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