# Engine warning lights and dirty oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** legacy, subaru\ **Created:** [April 14, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682 "2013-04-14T17:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![skiboybill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/db5fbb/32.png) [@skiboybill](https://community.cartalk.com/u/skiboybill)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/1 "2013-04-14T17:02:50Z")
Had an issue with “check” engine light turning on and “cruise” control light flashing, intermittently. Dealer said we had dirty oil contaminating some solenoid valves in the system but we had just done an oil change and do so every 3-5K (car has 170K). They recommended switching around the sensors and doing an “oil flush” with another oil change @ $280.00. The warning light problem hasn’t recurred, in the past month, since we started giving the gas cap a few extra turns after a fill-up. We’re getting ready to buy a new car and don’t want to give what might be a serious problem over to the next owner. Has anyone ever heard of the repair recommended ?? ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/2 "2013-04-14T17:24:31Z")
The dealer was just guessing, I believe, and took advantage of your ignorance to sell you something you probably don’t need. If there was a problem, the dealer certainly did not know what it was. Not tightening the gas cap will cause the engine light to illuminate. I would not worry about a possible problem here; your car has been maintained better than most, and the next owner will have many happy years of driving. I would just stop doing any business with this dealer, and shop elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/3 "2013-04-14T17:56:36Z")
**_Tagged: Subaru Legacy (car has 170K)_** **Model-Year ?** CSA ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/4 "2013-04-14T18:05:46Z")
**_Provided Information Is Weak. The Dealer Was Talking About Engine Oil And Not Transmission Fluid (Oil) ?_** It Would Be Helpful For You To Provide More Specific Information About " some solenoid valves in the system " What valves ? What system ? The dealer is possibly giving you a resonable option. Did You Get A Good Understanding Of The Situation ? If you can’t furnish sufficient information then advice you get will be not be very helpful. CSA ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/5 "2013-04-14T21:12:15Z")
@commonsenseanswer The dealer might have been talking about solenoids for the variable valve timing. Those can certainly get gummed up due to infrequent oil changes, and even using the wrong viscosity oil. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/6 "2013-04-14T21:21:01Z")
**_@db4690, Thanks, I Hadn’t Considered Those Overly Complicated Valve Trains. I’ve Not Owned A Machine With That Set-Up (Purposely). CSA_** ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-warning-lights-and-dirty-oil/78682/7 "2013-04-14T21:22:24Z")
@commonsenseanswer unfortunately, at some point in time, even the majority of used vehicles will have variable valve timing.