Can an oil change message result in Reduced Engine Power?

[GLWilliams58]

About 2275 miles ago I changed my oil. About 275 miles later, the LCD panel produced a message that said "change engine oil". I knew the engine oil did not need changed, so I was in no hurry to clear the message.

Yesterday, on the last leg of a 600 mile journey, while traveling at 65mph with the cruise control on, my engine light came on and the message indicator said "reduced engine power".

I coasted to an exit, then motored slowly into a gas station where I shut off the engine for a few minutes and looked under the hood. Nothing appeared wrong. I restarted the engine. The warning message was gone, but the engine light stayed lit. I drove the last 20 miles of my journey with no further problems, but the engine light never went off, and the change engine oil message reappeared.

I was wondering if the "change engine oil" message being displayed for about 2000 miles might have caused the engine to go into this "reduced engine power" mode. I read the manual this morning and learned how to clear the message with three pushes on the gas pedal.

Now the message is gone and engine light is off and everything appears to be okay. Does this sound like I need to take it to the WCC service center? Does it sound logical that the engine oil monitoring system may have gone into an engine protection mode, by being left on?

Thanks for your help.

[GLWilliams58]

About 2275 miles ago I changed my oil. About 275 miles later, the LCD panel produced a message that said "change engine oil". I knew the engine oil did not need changed, so I was in no hurry to clear the message.

Yesterday, on the last leg of a 600 mile journey, while traveling at 65mph with the cruise control on, my engine light came on and the message indicator said "reduced engine power".

I coasted to an exit, then motored slowly into a gas station where I shut off the engine for a few minutes and looked under the hood. Nothing appeared wrong. I restarted the engine. The warning message was gone, but the engine light stayed lit. I drove the last 20 miles of my journey with no further problems, but the engine light never went off, and the change engine oil message reappeared.

I was wondering if the "change engine oil" message being displayed for about 2000 miles might have caused the engine to go into this "reduced engine power" mode. I read the manual this morning and learned how to clear the message with three pushes on the gas pedal.

Now the message is gone and engine light is off and everything appears to be okay. Does this sound like I need to take it to the WCC service center? Does it sound logical that the engine oil monitoring system may have gone into an engine protection mode, by being left on?

Thanks for your help.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">everything appears to be okay. Does this sound like I need to take it to the WCC service center? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I would not take it in. Chances are they won't find anything if you got the warning light(s) to go away by resetting the oil change reminder.

In your post you said ""the message indicator said "reduced engine power" "", but you did not say if you actually experienced a loss of power. I'm just courious, not trying to be critical. ED

[GLWilliams58]

Hey Ed. Thanks for the reply.

I definitely lost most, but not all of the power.

The experience was odd. At first I just thought I bumped the cruise control off, because I was slowing down. I pushed the accerate button on the cruise system and got no response. Then I pushed the gas peddle, and then noticed the light and message code. The engine was not revving with the gas peddle. I had to check to make sure the engine was running, because the throttle was not doing anything. But the engine definitely was not stalled. When I coasted to a near stop, just short of a gas station, I found there was enough power to move forward very slowly and get off the road. At that point I thought maybe I had lost another plug wire. But when I restarted, it all sounded too smooth to be a spark plug wire. On the last 20 miles, I was convinced all plugs are working fine. And the engine sounds fine.

[oemtech]

I would think that the 2 are not related.

If you had changed the oil and NOT reset the oil change indicator via ignition key on and 3 pumps of the gas pedal in 5 secs then I think the GM OLS (Oil Life System) kicked in. I have a PDF copy of this on my Web Site. Link Here

Reduced Power Indicator can be caused by any number of things such as: Knock Sensor, miss fires, low fuel rail pressure (partially plugged fuel filter) etc. You can try to scan the system via the OBD 2 port to see if any codes are set. But, don't be surprised if you don't see any.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

I had the same thing happen last month while driving at about 62 mph on the freeway. I thought the cruise kicked out, but when I pressed the gas pedal nothing happened. I could just barely pull off on the next exit. The difference was I never noticed any message at all. After turning off the engine and letting it sit for about 15 or 20 minutes it started right up and has been fine since. Continued are trip for the final 300 miles to home. The next day I scanned the OBD-2 port for any codes and nothing showed up.

[GLWilliams58]

Dale, I appreciate the reply, but I might be confused.

What does the GM OLS do when it kicks in if you don't reset the oil change indicator after an oil change?

It sounds like you are saying the REP is not related to the OLS.

[GLWilliams58]

Bob,

You described my situation clearly. The cruise control had been working fine for a few hours. It was pretty flat terrain here in Florida. I was just cruising along when it dropped off. But there was no overlooking the bright orange engine light and the message for me.

I wonder if others have had it happen like this, pointing more towards a cruise control issue than a coincidental oil change light.

[Joe Gilbert]

The two events are not related. I would check my ScanGauge for error codes, I would think an error code would have been captured. If you do not have a ScanGauge almost any automotive repair shop would have one.

[oemtech]

GW,

The ECM actually has an Operating System that controls the various functions of the engine such fuel delivery, spark advance etc. One of the things GM has added is a the Oil Life System monitor. There is a very extensive algorithm the calculates when to change the oil and puts a message on the dash. Some folks think Workhorse has this function turned off. My opinion it is not. But, most of us don't put enough miles on in a year (avg 7,000 to 10,000) to ever get the message.

[bruceh]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by oemtech:
GW,

One of the things GM has added is a the Oil Life System monitor. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

When did they add this? I have never seen this is my 2001 and I do my own oil changes.

[UFO Pilot]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Some folks think Workhorse has this function turned off. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It works on my 08 UFO. It came on at 6700 miles when the water pump failed. The oil was changed at 3000 and 6000 so apparently it wasn't reset by the dealer when the oil change was done, or the over heating set it off.

[oemtech]

I think the OLS has been around since 2000 and maybe earlier on some models. Here is a quote I found on the net.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> General Motors Corporation GM Oil-Life™ System
The General Motors (GM) Oil-Life System, first introduced commercially in the 1998 Oldsmobiles, determines when to change the oil and filter based on several operating conditions. The technology does not actually monitor any single quality or physical property of the oil. Instead, the Oil-Life System monitors engine revolutions, operating temperature, and other factors that affect the length of oil change intervals. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[max49]

It's happened on mine before.
This is what I call 'Workhorse's false limp mode". There's nothing wrong with the engine, just something wrong with ECM or what ever it is that sends it into limp mode.
I've never read once where it went into limp mode and the owner reported, "it's a good thing" because I had no oil in the engine, it was boiling over or any other reason that the engine neeeded protection.
Another Workhorse or Actia good intention gone bad.