2003 Pontiac Sunfire Oil Light Never Came On Car Totalled

EMTCHICK83

MEMBER
2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

Other Category problem
2003 Pontiac Sunfire Engine Size unknown Two Wheel Drive Automatic 18000 miles

I had previously owned a brand new 2003 pontiac sunfire. One day I was traveiling down my dirt driveway and a rock had kicked up and pierced my oil pan, I was unaware, and the oil light never came on until I had driven 6 miles with oil spilling out of my pan. The car didn't make any noises or drive badly until right before it died, and the "idiot light" didn't come on until it was too late. I didn't even know I had a rock kick up so wasn't watching the oil pressure gauge (if it even had one I can't remember now). That car had 18,000 and the engine was ruined :*( was wondering if that is common. Thanks

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Under normal conditions, if the oil pressure light comes on with the ignition, it will activate with low pressure, now if the oil is being lost through a cracked sump, the light will remain off as long as the pump has oil to pick up, so there will be no unusual noises. When the oil is to low the pump will suck air and the system will loose pressure, that is when the light will come on. If the engine was shut down as soon as the light came on, on real damage would have been done. Even with out a warning light, as oil pressure falls dangerously low, the engine will start to knock and rattle. Under normal driving conditions one would expect to be able to pick up these noises as something not quite right. But unfortunately for you, this was not the case. Bearing failure can be swift, as seems to be the case here.

Mark (mhpautos)