Probably a faulty sensor. Those factory oil press. units are notorious for failure and getting shorts. A lot of times its moisute related that the light will pop up. Not a very good way to determine oil press. though. A oil guage would be better, if isntalled with a cut of switch to protect for damage. Not very practical though for everyday. I doubt you have anything to worry about.

 

Ok thats what I thought. I checked my oil about a week ago and it was a good half inch above the notch that indicates full on the dipstick. I'm gonna check it tommorow but it doesnt leak or burn any oil so where is it going? And it couldnt have used up that much oil in a week. So as long as the oil level is at the same since last week; must be the sensor. Thanks!

 

Not sure how familiar with checking oil but just in case.... Make sure you are checking the oil level after the engine has cooled down all the way. If you checked it once while it was cold an then once when it was warm then the readings will differ. Only check and fll it when the engine is cool to the touch. That might explain the "missing" oil. Not sure what else would explain it unless your exhaust was smoking really bad. Or, as mentioned, your oil sensor is just flaking out.

FWIW, A oil pressure gauge is not that difficult to install. If you can change your oil and oil filter then you coul handle an oil pressure gauge. I installed an Autometer Cobalt Mech Oil PSi Gauge myself in about 20-30mins.

 

First of all: The oil pressure sending units on the 4 banger are notorious for failing. You should probably replace it.

Second: I always check the oil one minute after I cut the engine off. I've always been taught to check it with the engine warm. It is NOT good to be that overfull. Check it while it's warm, and if it's still 1/2" above the full line, you will need to drain some off.

When oil is too full, it can get frothy and not protect the parts it needs to protect. This can damage the motor. Also, you can blow oil out places it's not supposed to go. Oil can end up in the PCV system, and can get pulled into the intake, etc. If you think "full is good, so overfull is better", you're wrong.

 

its the sensor most likely. I have replaced 3 in my stratus already. As for checking the oil I check it 15minutes after I shut it off. this gives enough time to drain back into the pan and gives you a good reading on what you have.

 

Ok so I checked the oil before I drove it for about 5-10 miles today. It was still above the full line. FYI The last oil change was done by mitsu so The oil is where it is supposed to be at regardless if the measurement method on the dipstick. Anyways, I was driving it and NO oil light came on and the ticking noise was very faint. I dont know, Im just gonna leave it alone, if the ticking gets louder or the oil light flashes more often then I'll look into an oil change. btw I think I have about 1500 miles since the last change so the oil is still good quality.

 

Just because Mitsu did the oil change doesn't mean it's right. Jeff Gordon's crew chief himself could do it and that wouldn't guarantee anything. Trust what the measurement tells you. You need to get the oil level right, and then you need to make sure the sending unit is working. If it does it with the level correct, then the sending unit needs to be replaced. This is common.

 

True haha yeah Mitsu is not perfect, no one for the matter. Thing is the dipstick shows the first oil line above (~1/2 inch) the first notch and car doesnt leak or burn any oil so Im guessing oil is fine and the sender is bad. Know of anywhere I can find one? Thanks

 

Wait so your oil is reading 1/2" above the bottom notch or the top notch?

 

The dipstick starts to change to a brown hue about a half inch above the top ("full") notch.

 

Is that brown hue actually wet oil or is it just kind of "burned" onto the dip stick? Is there any oil down under the "Full" marking? From the sounds of things I highly recommend taking the car by Mitsu and have them recheck their work. Just tell the shop/service manager the weird stuff you have noticed since they did the oil change (oil light, unusual readin on the dipstick, etc). They should fix any problems for free seeing their work is warranteed. Maybe you'll get a new oil sensor out of it.... if it wasn't on before they "overfilled" then maybe the overfilling damaged the unit. Mention that to the manager as well.

 

The brown hue is the oil, the dipstick isnt burned. Problem is the dealer I took it to is about 70 miles away cuz I go to college out of state so I think Ill just take it in this December for the usual checkup/oil change. I'll definitely keep an eye on the oil tho. I mean there are no signs of overfill, it doesnt leak and it doesnt burn any so if it is overfilled it cant be by too much.

 

Well a half an inch over the full line is a lot of extra oil! Probably close to half to 3/4 of a quart of oil. Just because you are not burning oil or leaking any on the ground doesnt necessarily mean its not over full, but the line on the dip stick is there for a reason.

 

I agree with Twisted. YOU do not notice a diference because you don't see any spills or smoke BUT if it is overfilled (per your dip stick it is) then I imagine the oil pressure if much higher than it should be. I'm not a mechanic but higher than normal pressures aren't good for anything (except maye busting a nut)

Is there a closer Mitsu to you than the one that did the service? I'm wondering if they will warranty the other shop's work. Hell, they are the same company so I imagine they wold check it for free :dunno:

From what I am seeing everyone is suggesting you have the car looked at. Does anyone here think he should NOT have this oil situation checked out by a shop???

 

I think he should just drain off half a quart or so.

 

I found this site in an effort to see pic of other mitsu owners with the same dipstick as me. The graphic on this site is extremely accurate, should this be what my dipstick looks like after I take it out? Cuz when I check mine my dipstick has oil blotches on the sides and like I said there is really never a distinct line, just a part where the hue changes and the blotches. FYI when I check the oil, the manifold is cold to the touch. Here check it out...

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Check the Oil

 

So you are pulling the dip stick cleaning it, putting it back in the line, and pulling it again to get your measurement?

Also there definitely should be a distinct line, its not going to be as dark as the oil in the picture being that you just got the oil changed. But there should still be a line.

 

Yes I do the mesurement that way some times cleaning it twice. So there should be that distinct of a line? I'll check it tommorow because it is dark out right now and I'll let u know.

 

There should definately be a distinct line. As stated your oil may be much lighter in color so it may be harder to see the line (or any of the oil for that matter) but it should be there. If it is not then something is definately wrong.

 

Ok guys so I went out and checked the oil and the car has been sitting in WV cold weather for about a day now. And it turns out that I kinda lied (sorry!) the dipstick is kinda burned so disregard that hue line we were talking about. But good news is I saw a distinct line and it is no where near that half inch we were talking about (half inch above the full notch was in refernce to the hue change). It was, tho, alittle bit above the lower "need to fill notch".
I HAVE A PICTURE, just go to my cardomain page and it is the first pic. Let me know what u guys think and how much I should add or if I should add any at all.
Once again I apologize for the misleading info and the confusion that it may have caused.
Also, I drove it for about 5 miles and got back and checked the oil again but it could not be read due to obvious reasons (some people say you should drive a bit and then check it but like I said, it was unreadable).

 

I thought you just had the oil change? There is no reason for it to be that low already. Either your burning oil and you don't know about it or the stealership didnt put enough oil in to begin with.

And the low oil thing you should buy probably a quart or 2, and pour half a quart at a time into the car. Giving it a minute or so to settle before checking the level again. Do that in till you reach the full notch.

 

I had the oil changed about 1800 miles ago, but regardless it really shouldnt be burning it off that quickly. I just think the age of the car has to do with it and if I have to buy a qt of oil and put it in between oil changes then I can live with that.

I had the dealer put in oil the last two times. It burned the oil quick sort of like now and I took it to them and said that it must have been their fault. They said it could be there fault or the car is just old and uses oil more than normal. So the last oil change (the oil that is presently in the car) was sort of "double checked" by the mechanic so it must be just be the car's age.

I have a qt of valvoline with me right now actually and Ill go add half and check it like you said Twizted3g. I'll keep you posted with results!!!

 

Ok I went out today and put about 1/3 of a qt in, checked it and it seemed that it was in between the two notches. (After checking it there was a line way above the full notch but the new oil started to mix with the older oil and formed a line between the notches - im going with that measurment!) Then I drove it for about 5 miles and everything seemed to be working good. Engine temp was good, no "blue smoke," no tick, steady RPM's, etc. So I think Im good now. I'll add some more if I hear the tick in near future.
Thank you everyone for your help throughout the process, really appreciate it!!!