Hey all, I'm really frightened to turn my car on now. See my brother changed the oil a couple days ago (he's a technician/mechanic etc, he knows what he's doin). He said to check the oil now, then check it as days go by. Well I did, after he changed it, the oil needle was pointing to 30 at idle, I don't know what it was at driving speed. But now today I washed my car, after I was fully done, I went to drive it around, then brought it back. I kept it idling in my driveway. But this time the oil needle was pointing to the line below the 30! Almost touching the red zone at the bottom of the meter! So I took it back out, still at idle it was around the line below 30. At driving speed it came up to 30 or higher, but went back down when at idle. What happened??!! I don't see any smoke coming out of exhaust pipes so I guess its not burning oil. Is oil suppose to be this low at idle? I'm really scared I don't want to turn on my car and have it seaze up. Where did the oil go? Is this a big problem, is it something to worry about? Please help me out here.

Any advice, opinions, facts, anything at all will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Tom

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6 months and counting... the search for a Camaro goes on...
... and now finally I got one, hell yeah!!!

Would you like it if the next generation of kids, start sayin daddy, daddy buy me a fast and powerful car, like a Honda Insight?! NO!
Muscle is muscle, stop this fighting between american cars, we must join and defeat the world!

1989 IROC-Z Camaro
5.7 Ltr
Ram Air
Cat-back Flowmasters
K&N Filters
-my first car, my dream now reality

 

Mang.....

Its oil PRESSURE, not level


Its the pressure on the sending unit, it could also be a short when you got everything wet washing your car, but the pressure will always change a little, when its cold and oil is thicker there's less pressure, when its hot and thinner there's more, higher rpms means the pumps turning faster etc etc

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1985 Iroc-z, 14 second 305, new engine in the works.

 

Thanks man. I don't know I just got a little frantic, that red zone was bothering me, it was just so close. I asked my Dad after reading your post he said pressure also. I knew how much oil I have is measured on the dip stick, but I guess being that it was an oil meter and it was low, it just got me worried. I love my car, but thanks again man. I'll try to calm myself now.