Check Engine Light + Low Oil Pressure Light

[lukel90]

Driving to the movies tonight with the GF i noticed that my check engine light was on.. I never had any problems with it whatsoever. before i get into the story just to let everyone know that i had my engine replaced under warranty from mazda at 85k. the last month or so i noticed that the car was eating a bit of oil, i added some more and thought nothing of it. then a week or so later i checked my oil again and it was lower then when i added oil. At this point im a little concerned about this and i keep driving. So today when the engine light came on i stopped and checked the oil and what do you know, its low again..this time realy low. i continue driving when the traffic light turns red. i push my brakes and notice the oil pressure light on and my engine turned off. I was like WTF. i restarted it and contined driving and when i touched my brakes then oil light would come on and the car would die. At this point im freaking out litterally. i pulled into a autosoarce store parking lot (conveniently located i might add.) and i bought more oil and filter and did the oil change right there in their parking lot. I did the oil change because i figured the engine light came on becasue of the low oil in the engine, and the oil pressure light came on also becasue of the low oil level.... So anyways i changed the oil and started the car, made sure the level was ok, and contined driving with No CEL or Low oil pressure light. Im going to give mazda a call to see wtf is going on. im pretty sure i know why the lights came on, but why is this new engine burning so much oil..i must have added like 1L the last month or so. i checked everything when i was under the car and im not leaking anywhere, im sure im not leaking....so what could be causing my engine to eat oil?

im open to any suggestions.

[Skarbro]

Take it back to the shop. Sounds like you have a bad seal.

[lukel90]

well from what i remember mazda installed parts are warrantied for 1 years and or 20 000km.. i got my engine replaced at 84k and change, i now have just over 106km, any thoughts on how much labour is involved in replacing a seal if that is what is causing my engine to eat oil.

[3GFX]

Just out of interest, why was your engine changed?

[Skarbro]

Originally posted by lukel90


well from what i remember mazda installed parts are warrantied for 1 years and or 20 000km.. i got my engine replaced at 84k and change, i now have just over 106km, any thoughts on how much labour is involved in replacing a seal if that is what is causing my engine to eat oil.
That\'s hard to say. I would imagine that they would first have to find out where it is leaking, which could involve an engine tear-down. It won\'t be cheap. But at a mere 2,000 km\'s over as you say, you should still try to get them to fix it under warranty. It\'s worth a shot.

[FLIPDADY]

Your car is still under warranty. Take it back to the dealer that installed it.

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by 3GFX


Just out of interest, why was your engine changed?

[MAZDA Kitten]

LOL
The thread is around here somewhere.


Lets just say some poor techie @ Mazda is out of a job

[lukel90]

flipspeed, why u saiy that my car is still under warranty. from the time the new engine was installed i crossed over 20000km already which is past the 1 year 20000km warranty they provide on new installed parts.i just wanted to know why you would think im still under warranty.

As for why my engine got replaced, well they didnt tell me why. all they said is it needed to be done and they asked for all my maintenance records. i dont even know what was wrong with the first one. i know i could hear the valves knocking but im sure it was more extensive then that.

[TheProfessor]

Wow, that\'s unfortunate, I wonder what was wrong with it. If it were me I would\'ve demanded to know exactly what was going on.

[lukel90]

i tried, they said they know the engine needs to be replaced and all they do is take it out and send it to mazda canada for some sort of inspection. i know what you mean, i really wanted to know what the hell went worng with that engine....

the fact that my engine is eating oil, could it in any way be related to the fact that i have a CAI. I dont see how it would but im not a technician.

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by lukel90

the fact that my engine is eating oil, could it in any way be related to the fact that i have a CAI. I dont see how it would but im not a technician.

Neither am I but I can\'t see how a CAI could cause the engine to eat oil.

[Skarbro]

CAI would not cause a low oil pressure situation. You won\'t know what the problem is by posting on this board. You have to have it inspected. Take it back to the mechanic.

[lukel90]

yeah im going to call on saturday to make an appointment for mon or tues. i need to get this figured out, jsut at 90 bucks an hour for labout, i might have them find the problem for me and get a friend mechanic to do the actual work....i dont know right now, but i need to get this resolved ..

[lukel90]

i talked to amechanic friend of mine at the tiger cat game on saturday and he came up with 2 answers based on what i told him about my car.

1..as one member said seals inside the engine are toast and

2. im losing viscosity in the engine and the rings ( im assuming piston rings) are at fault for my engine consuming oil.

im taking the car to mazda on monday and ill keep you guys up to date... he said parts like seals and rings are not very expensive, its the labour that will take car most of the cost. If mazda confirms that this is the issue, and wont cover it under the new parts warranty, then im going to buy the right parts and have him install it..somehow i dont think 90bucks a hour is a fair price.

[Skarbro]

Originally posted by lukel90

1..as one member said seals inside the engine are toast and


That would be me. :D

Let us know what you find out.

[lukel90]

so i went to mazda to today to see what was going on with my engine. First of all i was wrong, new parts installed under warranty are not subject to the 1 year 20oookm warranty. they are simply the extension of your existing one. that said i told the tech there what was happening and he said he\'ll have to take the car in to determine what the problem is. He said they;ll probably do a compression test to see if my compression is good and that he said would give him an idea if my rings needed replacing. but before he gets into that he said he looked at the spark plugs. he said that if i was burning oil that the tip of the plug would be black. he looked at all my plugs, and did some more work and he came back with the conclusion that my rings and seals are ok. he continued to explain that there wasnt even a need to do a compression test. the master tech told me that 1L in 4-5k is normal, but i stated that i put in about 1L the last 2 weeks. So to conclude, oH...they also updated my computer to new software for free. anyhow. it seems i have a ok engine and a little peiece of mind. But i still dont really by into what they said. The tech told me to keep a close eye on my oil which i will. If it continues which he said is shouldnt, then to bring the car back for more diagnostics.

all in all it was a waste of a day except for maybe the computer update......ill keep a close eye on my oil from now on and see if im continuing to have this problem.

[Skarbro]

Interesting. You\'re making me want to run out now and check my oil level.

[majic]

Originally posted by lukel90
the master tech told me that 1L in 4-5k is normal

maybe on cars made in the 80s :sarc

so he\'s saying that by the time you go for your scheduled service, you will be running on about 2.4L of oil .. **** that shit.. go back and get them to do more testing.. in fact.. don\'t go back.. go to another dealer..

*where\'s the fumin smiley when you need one*

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by majic



Originally posted by lukel90
the master tech told me that 1L in 4-5k is normal

maybe on cars made in the 80s :sarc



Or on Mazda\'s RX-8 ;)

[3GFX]

Or on Mazda\'s RX-8 ;)


Zing!!! :p

[lukel90]

i just got another CEL, went to mazda and it turns out its my thermostat. the teh said im running cold and my engine isnt getting up to normal operating temperature. im getting it replaced in friday, hopefully this is the end to me CEL days

[MAZDA Kitten]

You\'re getting another engine????

[Chuckie]

i think just a new thermostat

[lukel90]

as nice as it would be to get a new engine ( AGAIN), this time its only a thermostat.....thats funny though MK..lol