This is what happens when you do not change your oil

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Sadly many people think, when the oil light comes on it means you have to stop at the next gas station and buy another quart of oil

what it really means is, you better turn the engine off in a matter of seconds, because when the oil light comes on your engine is running bare metal against metal.

Ken, you brought up a good point about the idiot lights. By the time the idiot light comes on the problem(s) has(have) already developed and damage may have been done. With a gauge you could normally see before a problem develops..............as long as you were keeping an eye on the gauge, which no one really does constantly while they drive.

[KenWittlief]

usually if your engine is low on oil the light will come on for a few seconds when you turn a corner quickly, or stop quickly, and the oil pump sucks air for a second

then your odds of no damage are good if you stop the car, and get the quart of oil that you ALWAYS carry around in your trunk, and put it in the engine

its the occasional failures, like when you forget to put the oil filler cap back on, and you are driving down the highway at 75mph, straight and steady, and eventaully the oil pump sucks air, and nothing but air. Those are the conditions that will melt your bearings to the crankshaft.

I think some of those new additives they have will protect your engine a bit if it runs dry, but most of the time there is no excuse. If you check your oil every other week or so, it should never run dry on you.

I met a guy once who had a nice old style VW bus. He told me the oil light came on one sunny afternoon, and he was only a 'few miles from home'. He thought he could make it. The bearings thought otherwise.

while he was telling me this my hands clenched into fists, and I wanted to pummel him for murdering a vintage VW :^)