Hello,
This is my first post!
Last night my 2010 HHR 2.2 oil light came on then engine died. I restarted then pulled into a gas station and checked the oil. Being very low on oil I added 2 qts. and started home. My oil light would come on then the engine would lose power and die. When I would start the car I would lose ALL power but the engine would start and I could drive 1/2 a mile and it would start again with the oil light coming on then loss of power and dying. I finally made it home (8 miles) and now I need to go outside and stand by the HHR, scratch my head and pray I get some kind of a clue from all of you kind folks here as to what could be the problem. The HHR has 145K on it and has been well cared for all of it's life!!!
Thanking all who answers in advance!!!

 

Sounds to me like you're losing or burning a LOT of oil.. When was the last time you did routine maintenance on it?

 

Hi,
2K ago had oil changed! There has NEVER been any excessive oil burn...
Also if just having added oil how could I see an oil light AND loss of power and engine cut off AND no temp. jump past normal?
Thanks

 

The Oil light functions off of oil pressure, NOT the oil level. If the oil level is indeed full( I would advise double checking that ) then you may have suffered some type of oil pump failure.

 

A good rule: if the oil light comes on while driving, *stop driving*.
You stand a good chance of ruining the engine, and with the value of our cars it it may not be worth fixing.
I wish you best of luck.

 

Loss of oil, if that is what it is can be one of two places: Internal meaning into the radiator due to head gasket leak, down the exhaust due to oil ring failure or through the PCV valve due to it failing. For the first, check the coolant to see if there is any oil in it. Since HHRs have an expansion tank it may require draining the coolant and checking it and refilling. If the oil goes down the exhaust you will smell it out the tail pipe and shortly the core of the catalytic converter will plug up and all the rings will blow out. For the last, oil will be gumming up the spark plugs and also possibly getting into the intake system. You'll have to pull the intake system open to check.

For external, if the oil is dripping as noted you'll see it but it might be spraying on the bottom of the car and sticking to any dirt there. Time to get dirty and and crawl under there and look.

My guess is the oil going into the exhaust.....

 

it could be a number of things, if you can get it to an AutoZone have and codes pulled, it just maybe the oil pressure sending unit failed

 

OB, if he is experiencing like I am where the Oil Life indicator says you're good, but you get idiot lights or HEAR something, and find out it's dead low... I don't know if that will apply to what you are speaking.

 

What does the Oil Life Indicator have to do with it? Nothing!!!

 

The oil life indicator is only a approximation of how much 'life' is left in the oil until is needs to be changed. It has nothing to do with level, or pressure.