Why does my oil light flicker on only when I idle?

[Gary_T]

@I_Know_Nothing

I put in about a quart of oil between my 30,000 mile oil changes.

I hope you mean 3,000 rather than 30,000.

I thought that might be where the smell was coming from, but since it only comes from my heater after I idle, and only after I idle in drive when the car is warm(basically when my oil light comes on), it doesn’t seem to me that that would be the problem.

If it’s a hot antifreeze odor, it’s likely a small leak in the heater core. This would be accompanied by a gradual drop in the engine coolant level. If it is indeed a hot oil smell, I would guess that the fumes are coming in with the air for the heater, in which case they should also come in with the “vent” mode.

When I take my car in next week I’m going to get a diagnosis on my moter mount. Would that have anything to do with my oil light situation, or is that a completely separate issue.

Separate.

[I_Know_Nothing]

@John Carter of Mars

You do understand that after you get this car repaired you are obligated to report the results here, right?
After all this, we are gonna’ wanna’ know!

I’ve never resurrected a thread before but I finally was able to get to the shop. Here’s the verdict:

The shaking was from my motor and transmission mounts being bad. He replaced those and the difference is amazing. I never thought my 150,000 mile engine would ever feel like that again.

My mechanics theory on the oil light was that my broken compressor was taking power from the engine. I don’t know the exact details, but this one belt runs three things, including the compressor, which has never worked. I was always careful not to run the AC for this reason, but I just found out that the defroster uses the compressor that that’s what probably did it. I have not had any problems in two days now so I think he was right. The weird thing is that now my engine light is on. Could replacing the engine and transmission mounts or bypassing the compressor with a smaller belt have anything to do with this?

[Gary_T]

@I_Know_Nothing

The weird thing is that now my engine light is on. Could replacing the engine and transmission mounts or bypassing the compressor with a smaller belt have anything to do with this?

I don’t see how, unless something was inadvertently left disconnected.

[I_Know_Nothing]

Oops. I was in a hurry and and it looks like I left out my mechanic’s solution to the problem. Since I don’t have the money to to replace the compressor, he just found a smaller belt that bypassed the compressor but still fit aroung the other components(you’ll have to forgive me that I don’t know what they are).

[Uncommon_Sense]

Thanks for the update.
Could the compressor (not being on the belt) cause the engine light to come on? I don’t know, but it’s possible.

You should take it back to that same mechanic and have them put it on the analyzer to find out why the engine light is on NOW, since it wasn’t on when you took it in to them.

[staceym83]

I bought my car and was able to drive it for one week before it broke down. The car lot I got it from stated that they done an oil change as well as replacing all sorts of things regarding the oil system. That whole week I drove it I kept getting told that I just needed to replace the bulb because it was going out. The car idled funny and the light flickered when setting at a stop light or sign. Soon as I would start driving again it would stop flickering. Now a month after it broke down I find out that a push rod has gone through the head gasket. The oil level was checked repeatedly and was always where it needed to be. What would have caused the push rod to go through the head gasket? I’ve only has the car 5 weeks and was only able to drive it the first week. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[beowulff]

@staceym83

I bought my car and was able to drive it for one week before it broke down. The car lot I got it from stated that they done an oil change as well as replacing all sorts of things regarding the oil system. That whole week I drove it I kept getting told that I just needed to replace the bulb because it was going out. The car idled funny and the light flickered when setting at a stop light or sign. Soon as I would start driving again it would stop flickering. Now a month after it broke down I find out that a push rod has gone through the head gasket. The oil level was checked repeatedly and was always where it needed to be. What would have caused the push rod to go through the head gasket? I’ve only has the car 5 weeks and was only able to drive it the first week. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

First of all, it’s NEVER a bad bulb!
Your engine obviously had oil pressure problems - it could be any number of things (bad oil pump, bad bearings, etc.). Hate to tell you, but it’s probably not worth fixing.