Oil light

[guziec1982]

So to make a long story short my oil ran low and the light came on. I have been religious about getting the oil change, but this past year I have slacked going almost 6-7k between changes.
While I was driving on the express way, the light came on and about 2 miles later the car died. I check the oil level and it was a little above the low line. I added 2 quarts of oil after I pulled over to the side of the road. Now the part that concerns me is that the car would not start or even turn over at first. But about 20mins later I tried to start it and it made an effort but still nothing. So I had it towed.
Then question is this.... Did I screw myself and blow my engine or is there a built in safety for low oil pressure.


*Please don't remind me that I "Should have changed the oil sooner." I know that this is my fault.

Happy St. Patties Day(cheers)

 

[speedracer]

be careful! I had a 03 P5 and ran low on oil too. my light did NOT comeon
though. I did have an extented warrenty so after 3 months at the dealer
and a new motor shipped from Japan I got it back. I spun a bearing and got metal shavings all up the engine and into the head.
get it checked soon and if you hear even a hint of a tick turn it off and have it towed.
Just my 2 cents

 

[gsmooth]

dont mess with engine oil! when mine was low my engine oil light didn't come on either!!

my tranny was experiencing problems @ the same time so it never occured to me i was "losing" oil, I thought the ticking was just coming from the tranny. Got the tranny fixed, 1 day later, ticking turned to knocking and that was the end of the engine. Rod in 1st cylinder almost busted through my A/C compressor :S

that was 4 years ago but I still have nightmares about it

 

[Tom03es]

If the light does come on, it's usually just to tell you that you just bought yourself a new engine. It's worthless in any other sense.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

If the light does come on, it's usually just to tell you that you just bought yourself a new engine. It's worthless in any other sense.

+1

I have oil consumption problems (hopefully just remedied with some Bardhal and a Milennia PCV valve) and the only time I have seen the light was intermittently under hard cornering. Fortunately I immediately added oil and haven't had an issue since, but now I check the stick with every fill up. When the engine died did it sound like there were internal problems (loud knocking, etc)?

 

[speedracer]

If the light does come on, it's usually just to tell you that you just bought yourself a new engine. It's worthless in any other sense.

(mswerd) +2. The idiot light is useless in using it as a monitoring device.
Thats why after I traded in my P5 with the new engine the first thing I put in my MSP was a oil pressure gauge. something I think every car needs
from the factory!!!

 

[BlackCherry06]

This did not help at all:

While I was driving on the express way, the light came on and about 2 miles later the car died.

 

[Tom03es]

With all the recent talk of engines dieing, my thoughts have turned toward getting an Accusump:
http://www.accusump.com/acc_products/acc_units.html

For about $284 (+ shipping) from Livermoreperformance.com you can get yourself a 2 qt Accusump with a remote electric switch and brackets.