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The oil pressure light indicates that the oil pump INSIDE the engine is incapable of producing sufficient oil pressure for safe operation of the engine bearings.
Do NOT run any engine if the oil pressure light does not go out after it has been running for a couple seconds.
The oil pump pulls oil from the bottom of the oil pan, then the oil is pressurized to about 40 to 60 PSI. The pressurized oil is pushed through galley's throughout the engine, and ends up pressurizing ALL of the bearing surfaces.
As pressurized oil is forced into the spaces between bearings and the crankshaft or camshaft, it effectively isolates the soft babbit (rhymes with rabbit) metal of the bearings from the hard, polished surface of the bearings. Automotive bearings are engineered to prevent the two surfaces from coming in contact, meaning that the oil pressure must be constantly maintained if you want to prevent immediate and catastrophic engine failure.
The oil light can come on for any of several reasons.
- Low oil level... very bad
- Worn rod, main or camshaft bearings. Can be moderately to very bad.
- Worn oil pump. Very bad.
- Failed oil pressure sender switch. Annoying, but not bad.
If the oil has been allowed to run low, by the time the light comes on you have caused significant damage to the engine.
If the rod, main or camshaft bearings have worn, the gap between the two has expanded allowing oil to leak out at a higher rate. That makes it impossible for the oil pump to keep up, causing the oil pressure to drop and the light comes on. If that's the problem, use a higher viscosity oil in your next oil change. That can let you squeeze a little more life out of the engine and the light won't come on. Either that or rebuild the engine... but why?
A worn fuel pump can only be solved by replacing the fuel pump. That means engine dis-assembly.
If the oil pressure sender has failed, just put in a new one... but just understand, they don't fail very often.
What else can I help you with?
What type of oil filter do you use for a 2003 Saturn Ion sedan?
For the 2.2 liter 2003 Saturn Ion:Fram CH9018STP S9018R
Which oil for Saturn ION 2003?
Any 5w30 oil will suit this engine well.
How many quarts of transmission oil does a 2003 Saturn Vue take?
How many quarts of oil does a Saturn sl1wagon 1.8 dual overhead camtake
Where is Saturn 2003 l200 oil drain plug located?
Bottom of the engine on the oil pan.
How do you change the transmission oil and filter on a 2005 Saturn ion?
Where is the transmission filter location on a 2003 Saturn Ion
How do you get the change oil soon light off of a 2007 Saturn sky?
The only way to get the oil change light off of a 2007 Saturn sky is to change the oil in the car before the engine blows up.
How do you reset the oil light for a 2002 Saturn L200?
Check the main fuse box. In some of the L series the main fuse box is under the hood, next to the battery.Remove the top of the fuse box and look for the button that says "oil".Turn the key to the "on" position, but don't start the engine.Push and hold the "oil" button until you hear the dashboard chime.Once you hear the chime, you know that the oil light is reset.If your L series Saturn is different, check the owners manual.
Oil pan on a 1998 Saturn sl?
yes the s- series has one....
How can you stop the lights from being on in the dash of a Saturn such as the engine oil light etc?
Add oil.
How much oil does a 2002 Saturn ion hold?
Hi A 2003 holds five quarts with the oil filter
97 Saturn SL1 - My oil light comes on at start - there is plenty of oil and light goes off after I drive for a few minutes. Intermittant knocking sound that improved after oil change but getting worse?
See Saturnfans.com under s-series. More info is needed for better diagnosis
How many quarts of oil go in a 2003 Saturn ion?
5 with filter change
