Severe oil leak - 97 Bonneville - 199K

[jcheidler]

Yesterday afternoon I checked my oil and it was less than 1/2 a quart low so I left it alone. 4 hours later at 5:30pm I went to go home and most of the oil had leaked out of the engine. I started it before I noticed the leak since it was dark and I could hear everything tapping so I shut it off. Is is possible the oil level sensor could have just given out and everything leaked or does anyone have a guess. I haven't looked under it since yesterday and that was with a flashlight.

[maxwedge]

Due respect here, but how do we know where the oil in your car leaked from? Oil level sensor could leak, but it is rare.

[jcheidler]

It looks like it might be the oil pressure sensor and the oil was coming out so fast that I thought it leaked while parked. I found a thread on another site where a guy said the oil prossure sensor went on his 3800 and it emptied the engine within minutes. I'll let you know how it works out after I replace it tomorrow.