Driving along yesterday, I kept hearing an occasional ding. Generally in newer cars that could be a light going out and thought nothing of it except to check them when I got home.
Then, my oil light came on.... And promptly went off... A few times. Then throughout the day it flickered almost constantly and somewhat inconsistently.
I do appreciate the ding when it means something, but since the light was flickering it was a constant "ding...ding...ding" like a door being left open. Sure gets annoying. With my wheel bearing needing replacing the drive home was a symphony of failing vehicle component. I'm glad I kept what's left of my sanity.
The results of low oil pressure is catastrophic destruction of many engine components and I knew I had to track this down fast. my initial assumption was it was perhaps an oil life reminder that got a strange bug up it's but. I did an oil (mobile 1 synth 5-w20) change the next morning. Light came back without any change.
Next step, since it was flickering and I heard no signs of failing components yet, put a bit of Lucas in it. The Lucas should thicken up the oil enough to create additional pressure. Since I just did an oil change, I didn't have too much room to add Lucas. I only used about 1/3rd qt and it brought the level to the upper portion of the safe zone. Didn't want to add too much. The light continued it's annoying flickering and dinging with no change in frequency.
Since it was just flickering, my assumption was that even 1/3 qt of Lucas stabilizer would've provided enough additional pressure to turn the light off. Had it worked, I might have some good tear down and build stories... But it didn't.
Now I get to change the sensor. I'll let everyone know if it fixes it. If it doesn't then I'll be hooking up a pressure gauge and reading real-time pressure and make my next move from there.
Hopefully I'll have it in tomorrow.
This is a new vehicle to me and I've driven it less than a week. I've had a few other issues with it. I hope it's not an indication of what's to be expected for the future of the Patriot.
Fyi - It is an '07 2.4l 4wd.
Then, my oil light came on.... And promptly went off... A few times. Then throughout the day it flickered almost constantly and somewhat inconsistently.
I do appreciate the ding when it means something, but since the light was flickering it was a constant "ding...ding...ding" like a door being left open. Sure gets annoying. With my wheel bearing needing replacing the drive home was a symphony of failing vehicle component. I'm glad I kept what's left of my sanity.
The results of low oil pressure is catastrophic destruction of many engine components and I knew I had to track this down fast. my initial assumption was it was perhaps an oil life reminder that got a strange bug up it's but. I did an oil (mobile 1 synth 5-w20) change the next morning. Light came back without any change.
Next step, since it was flickering and I heard no signs of failing components yet, put a bit of Lucas in it. The Lucas should thicken up the oil enough to create additional pressure. Since I just did an oil change, I didn't have too much room to add Lucas. I only used about 1/3rd qt and it brought the level to the upper portion of the safe zone. Didn't want to add too much. The light continued it's annoying flickering and dinging with no change in frequency.
Since it was just flickering, my assumption was that even 1/3 qt of Lucas stabilizer would've provided enough additional pressure to turn the light off. Had it worked, I might have some good tear down and build stories... But it didn't.
Now I get to change the sensor. I'll let everyone know if it fixes it. If it doesn't then I'll be hooking up a pressure gauge and reading real-time pressure and make my next move from there.
Hopefully I'll have it in tomorrow.
This is a new vehicle to me and I've driven it less than a week. I've had a few other issues with it. I hope it's not an indication of what's to be expected for the future of the Patriot.
Fyi - It is an '07 2.4l 4wd.
