Hi guys.
I have an 04 Chevy Colorado with an intermittent oil light. When I step on the gas it shuts off. A mechanic told me it can be checked without the light on. I think that’s false. Any ideas?
It sounds like to me that the oil light turns off at higher RPMs. If that is the case it may be that your oil is low or your oil pump is wearing out. A worn pump can't make the pressures needed at low rpms and the oil light will come on, but at higher rpms the pump spins faster and can get higher pressures. Thus making the light turn off.
@_aragorn_7
Thank you. The oil level is good so it must be the pump. I was told the mechanic can’t check the pump unless the light is on. Do you know if this is accurate?
All that the light is telling you is that you have low oil pressure. Or at least it thinks it has low oil pressure. I don't know your miles but a bad sensor can also make the light turn on.
@_aragorn_7
how long do oil pumps last in average? can they just be cleaned?
I have never heard of being able to clean an oil pump. The should be not much dirt anyway if you use good filters. The life of the pump all comes down to how often you change your oil and filter.
With the right equipment it is possible to check the oil pressure without the light being on. However, it is most likely either the sensor and not the pump if that truck continues to run properly even after the indicator light comes on. If it was not pumping adequate oil it would be evident by how poorly the truck would run.
@toylex420
If the truck has low oil pressure, the truck will only start running bad once there has been major damage done to the engine due to lack of lubrication. So he needs to determine if it is the sensor or the pump before it starts running bad.
There are oil additives that claim to clean but most are just snake oil...maybe literally!