Not too long ago my car has started to eat through oil like crazy. When it first started I didn't catch the problem until the oil light came on and stood on while on the commute back from work on the highway. I did an oil change and the light went away. I looked around for the cause of the oil lost cause it doesn't look like my car is burning the oil and I found the back of my block covered in oil. This is making me think the head gasket just crapped out on me. So until I can fix the head gasket I filled the motor with oil and have been keeping a careful eye on the oil level. However, recently my oil light has started to come on and stay on when my car is idling after the car is hot. What could be causing this? The oil level is at full.

Also, do you need to remove the cams from the head to remove the head? I have already changed my timing belt myself so I can get that far in no problem, I just hope the cams don't need to come out to change the head gasket.

Thanks

Originally posted by Blmet
However, recently my oil light has started to come on and stay on when my car is idling after the car is hot. What could be causing this? The oil level is at full.

Bearing wear.

Originally posted by Blmet
Also, do you need to remove the cams from the head to remove the head? I have already changed my timing belt myself so I can get that far in no problem, I just hope the cams don't need to come out to change the head gasket. Thanks

Yes, the cams will have to come out. No other way around it to get to the head bolts. Be 100% sure to keep the orientation of the cam caps/bolts in the correct order as you take them off and then put them back on. Nows not a bad time to considering getting some head studs with the upcoming head gasket change also. However if you do not get head studs, I absolutely recommend getting new head bolts, you are not going to want to re-use the old ones.

Originally posted by xcasbonx

Originally posted by Blmet Also, do you need to remove the cams from the head to remove the head? I have already changed my timing belt myself so I can get that far in no problem, I just hope the cams don't need to come out to change the head gasket. Thanks

Yes, the cams will have to come out. No other way around it to get to the head bolts. Be 100% sure to keep the orientation of the cam caps/bolts in the correct order as you take them off and then put them back on. Nows not a bad time to considering getting some head studs with the upcoming head gasket change also. However if you do not get head studs, I absolutely recommend getting new head bolts, you are not going to want to re-use the old ones.

Actually, you take take the head off without removing the cams, you just can't take the headbolts out of the head without removing the cams ;-)