Low Oil Pressure Light (Interesting Problem)

[zdunham]

Hi all. This forum looks really promising so I'm hoping someone might be able to give me some suggestions here before I take my car somewhere.

I have a 2000 Grand AM SE and this car has been great to me; has 170,000 miles on it right now. Almost never has problems and maintenance has been easy. The problem, if it is a problem, that I'm having right now is interesting. The car burns oil a little more than it should I think; it burns a little less than a quart over 3,000 miles. I use regular motor oil (no synthetic); Valvoline. It never gets low enough to the point where I am getting warnings of any kind; except when I turn left. When it gets close to oil change time left turns make my low oil pressure light come on and the engine sounds like it is struggling a tad. The harder/sharper/faster I hit a turn the worse it seems. I can take a right turn however I want and nothing happens; nothing happens when I am driving straight either.

I'm not sure what this could be or how bad it is. The car has never shut off or stopped working in any way. Anyone have any similar problems or know what this could be?

Thanks for any help in advance!

[thephantom1492]

My guess is that when the sensor see that the oil is too low it shut off the motor. But since you're only border line it see oil and then resume it. It probably shut off the fuel injectors while the oil is too low.

I'ld be more worried about the oil burning... and just top it up so the oil don't get too low

[danielsatur]

Burning a little oil with 170K miles is nothing unusual for worn valve stem seals.
Try replacing the PCV Valve.

[GTP Dad]

This can happen when the oil is lower than normal. When you turn either left or right the oil can move away from the sump pick-up and cause the oil pressure to drop. I would purchase an additional quart of oil each time you change the oil or at least keep one on hand when you notice the oil is getting low add some and the issue should quit. You may also want to try a can of Restore. It will help reduce oil consumption and will also increase compression by filling in small scratches in the cylinder walls. I use it and it does work.

[3100]

when you turn left oil will move to the right side of the oil pan, so this tells me that your oil level switch is on the drivers side of the oil pan and that oil level is about 1 and 1/2 quart low. You should use 10w-40 oil

[Blue Bowtie]

That's all good, but the oil level sensor DOES NOT shut off the ignition nor the injectors. This is not a Ford.

[skeeter123]

didn't say if you had the V6 or the 4-cylinder; but the V6 has both an oil pressure sensor and an oil level sensor. Oil level sensor is in the bottom of the pan; pressure sensor is in the side of the block near the oil filter. Don't know which one causes which warning light to come on....