oil light came on

1997 FORD TAURUS
120,000 MILES
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RICK DUDASIK
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1997 Taurus....oil light came on all of a sudden.....did this 20k miles ago and after a dozen 1 mile drive it stopped and went 20 k miles just fine.....now back on again...where do i start?

This problem also happened a year ago. Drove the car around the block a dozen or so different times and the problem went away for 20 k miles.

When the light comes on, there are the typical noise symptoms of no oil to the engine. one owner car off showroom...only major part replaced ever was a water pump.Checked on line and saw things like blocked oil screen, vacum line problem,filter clogged, Has always had good oil changes on time.

not sure where to start.....car only worth $800 but has served me well...if can fix for under $1000 would like to do that. Thanks
Mar 16, 2012 at 11:38 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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The first thing were going to have to do is check the actual oil pressure.You would unscrew the oil sending unit and screw a oil pressure gauge.We can go from there we would have to check some things to tell what needs to be replaced if there is a oil pressure issue.
Mar 16, 2012 at 11:43 PM
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CJ MEDEVAC
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LIKE saturntech9 SAID DO THE MECHANICAL GAUGE TEST 1ST...MAYBE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT IS IN MY LINK

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1999-chrysler-lhs-car-off-oil-level-full-started-drops-below-low-light-comes-on

THE SCREEN IS A POSSIBILITY AND ALSO OIL RETURN PASSAGES BLOCKED OR RESTRICTED ON THE HEAD

WHEN I HAVE SEEN THAT ISSUE OCCUR, OIL PRESSURE MAY BE FINE AT 1ST (OIL IN PAN) THEN AS IT RUNS, OIL IS PUMPED THRU THE ENGINE AND TO THE VALVE TRAIN. HOWEVER LONG IT MAY TAKE, THE OIL IS PUMPED ON TOP OF THE HEAD (UNDER THE VALVE COVER) AND CANNOT IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE PAN DUE TO RESTRICTIONS IN THE RETURN HOLES. ON SOME ENGINES YOU CAN PULL THE FILL CAP AND ACTUALLY WATCH IT "POOL" INSIDE THE VALVE COVER. EVENTUALLY ALL OF THE OIL IS "UP TOP" AND NONE AROUND THE OIL PICKUP...WAH-LAH...NO OIL PRESSURE! THE REMEDY FOR THIS SITUATION IS TO REMOVE THE VALVE COVER AND CLEAN OUT ALL OF THE RETURN PASSAGES.

DO KEEP US INFORMED ON YOUR SITUATION AS YOU PROGRESS. INCLUDE ALL FINDINGS, THIS MAY STEER US INTO BETTER, FASTER SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OR DO NEXT....THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER POSSIBILITIES, AND WE COULD "IF IT" FOREVER!

THE MEDIC
Mar 17, 2012 at 11:39 AM
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