my dipstick shows the oil level is low but the "oil high" indicator in the odometer window keeps coming on. any ideas about this?

 

How low does the dipstick say? Where between the low and high notches is the level?

 

When did you last change your oil? To be safe, why not drain all of the oil and change the filter and then put back exactly 8.5 quarts and see if the light goes out and note where the oil level is on the dipstick. This should be your norm. Be sure to run it first to fill the filter and oil passages.

 

I'd like to suggest 8 quarts and not 8.5 - all three Roadsters I've owned have given me high oil alarms on 8.5 quart fills.

No, not if I drive like my grandmother -but if I enjoy the car in the curves, 8.5 quarts triggers the high oil alarm. I put over 70,000 miles on the Graphite and never saw the high oil alarm after my first 8 quart change.

 

oil level is below the bottom of the dipstick.

 

Then the oil sensor in the bottom of the engine has failed.

 

oil level sensor, you gotta drop the oil pan to replace

 

I"ve got to tell you - I'd be way more concerned with how the oil level got so low....

 

X2 for this suggestion, with a filter change INCLUDED!


There has been some posts where people have parked on angled roads/driveways and then had the oil sensor 'stick' or go defective. Is it possible the sensor at its lowest level sends an errant signal? If your LUCKY, an oil/filter change MIGHT correct the 'defect'. Seeing as an oil/filter change is the least cost, it would not hurt to try this before pulling the pan off trying to replace the sensor. Just a suggestion...

 

I've got to agree with pizzaguy. When I did the first oil change on my 2007 Coupe, I filled with 8.5 quarts of oil. We then went to our 1st Dragon Weekend event and all weekend the high oil level warning came on during the runs through the mountains. When I got home, I siphoned out about 1/2 quart and never had the high level oil warning light come on again. Ever since, I only fill using 8 quarts during an oil change. And the dipstick always reads full with 8 quarts.

 

Ditto that point!

 

And if doesn't even read on the dipstick, then you don't know HOW LOW it really is ......

 

How much below is the big question 1/8" or 3"?
We are assuming the engine was run when the oil was low.

 

Oil thieves are at it again ..... ( probably them durn Canadians, eh ? )

 

Use the following procedure from the Owners Manual to see if the oil level indicator is working properly. You should see a recommendation from the warning sensor on how much oil to add to the engine.

And as we've stated earlier, monitor the oil for several days/weeks to see if you're losing oil. You say your warning light is on. With the dipstick showing oil below the LOW mark, it is suppose to be on!

Sorry - went back & read your original post again. I'd agree with onehundred80, most likely a malfunction in the oil level measuring system. That's why they gave us the "old tried & true dipstick" as a backup for measuring oil level.

I'd be adding oil to get the dipstick level back in range. And I'd recommend paying a lot more attention to the oil level in your Crossfire!

 

For the last 60,000 miles on my 2004, I have never had an issue with 8.5 quarts of fill with an oil change. 8 quarts shows low on my dipstick.

James

 

Oddly enough all my oil changes over the past 87,000 miles only required 8 quarts to show exactly "full" on the dipstick and I never needed to add any oil between oil changes.
It simply just never used or lost a drop and remained full over 5000 to 7000 mile periods
I'm currently at 105,000 miles and have had my Crossfire just over 9 years

 

It does not use much oil that is true, but it does use oil, the oil catch can proves it. Also a thin layer of oil on the cylinder walls, inlet and exhaust valve stems is lost as well. When you change your oil note how much less you put back into the empty oil jugs.
I estimate that in three thousand miles driven since the last oil change the car used 1/4 to 1/2 a litre, maybe a bit more.
If no oil was lost the car would seize up solid.

 

This is a good point. There is always wear occurring within the engine. The oil just helps to minimize the impact of that wear over time. To do this, some oil loss is expected & desired so engine life is sustained. Even the OEMs, by the dipstick design, show a good oil level range which verifies that some oil loss is expected & not a concern. But for most of us, we hardly see any significant oil loss on the dipstick.

IMO, if having to add a quart of oil between oil changes is occurring, I'd be concerned about engine wear becoming a problem. Back in the days before synthetic oils, I'd probably say 2 quarts between oil changes. And that might be a stretch!

 

The worst condition an engine of mine got was a 4.3 L GM V6 that ate itself up as the coolant entered the oil. All the while the dealer kept stalling by asking for records of oil usage and mileage. It ended up using 1 qt of oil in 150 kilometers at which point I gave in and had the engine rebuilt myself. I took the engine out and reinstalled it myself. In a GMC Safari van it was tricky, I labelled and made note as parts were removed and later reinstalled everything in reverse.