I have a 98 Cavalier Z24 with 203,000 miles on it. I was driving it today all day and it was running fine except for a small miss but once you gave it gas it would even out. Well I had the brakes changed later that evening and once I got it done I took it out to test the brakes out and the car started to slightly knock not very loud but enough to hear it. So I took it home and parked it and the oil light came on once I was sitting at idle. I checked the oil and it was about a half quart low so so I added oil but its still showing the low oil light and still knocking and there isnt any leaks that I can see. Can anyone help me out with this plz thx!
Did you let the car sit a few minutes before sticking the oil, and was the car on level ground? I'm not trying to be a jerk, but it makes a difference.
If that check was good, then it could be the balance shafts in the bottom end. The oil pump is under #4 cylinder and runs off the balance shafts, which are driven by a very small chain thgat is easily embarrassed by a bicycle. The teeth on the sprockets could be worn, or the chain could be worn so much that the balance shafts are out of sync with the crank shaft.
Check that out and get back with us, let us know what you find.
Some people have brain storms, others light drizzles. And then there are those that have droughts.
Yea I checked the oil when it was on level ground and waited a few minutes and it checked out ok lol I recently had to put a new head on it so while I was at I put the secret cam swap on it and the 2.2 coil conversion as well. It ran ok except for the slight miss but now I'm afraid to drive it! Is it possible that it could be the oil pump Ive heard they are notorious for going out and spinning rod bearings??
and with it knocking I hope it didn't ruin the motor
My OHV 2.2 almost always will get the oil light to come on at idle when hot, unless I run Mobil 1. So, guess what? I always run Mobil 1.
I'd say the light is on because of low pressure.
Replace the oil pump and go from there.
The oil light is on because of low pressure, that much is right. The low oil pressure though isn't from the pump... it's leaking out of number 3 rod bearing,.. Anybody care to take a bet?
- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs
Nope...lol but I just got a 00 cavalier that has the LD9 in it and got pretty much for free cause the guy didnt want to deal with fixing it. The problem is the same just like the others he ran it with no oil and now it knocks bad. Therefore I am goin to tear it down check everything that yall have mentioned...I have heard somethin about some swap of the oil pump??? I think its something like the balance shaft delete?? ANy info just let me know thanks
