Wierd oil problem

[jdbubb at ix.netcom.com (Dan Bubb)]

The oil warning light does not sense oil level. It senses oil pressure. You
can be very low on oil and still have adequate pressure. Of course there is
a limit! (no oil, no pressure!)
Aside from an actual oil pressure problem, the sensors can fail, you can
have loose connections or the oil pressure PCB can fail or have intermittent
failure. I've experienced the PCB intermitent failure that appears to be
ambient temperature related.
The PCB is not cheap at $38, but that seems to generally be the problem with
an intermittent oil light/buzzer.
Aside from replacing the PCB, I installed an oil pressure gauge so I know
what the pressure is.
Dan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Smith" <smithma7@yahoo.com>
To: "John Lagnese" <jlagnese@massed.net>
Cc: "car" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: Wierd oil problem


> When I first start it, no light.  Once I start moving, it comes on about
30 seconds into the drive and stays on until I turn engine off.  At times
when I stall (CIS shizz) in traffic, I restart and have same results.
Nothing until I start moving and then 30 seconds into it: blink blink blink.
It shouldn't be low on oil.  As I don't wish to rebuild it again, I've been
fairly religious in checking and changing the oil.  And as I drive 500
miles/week for work, I've been changing it about once a month.  In fact,
just ordered 20 drain plug washers a couple of weeks ago.  Can't remember
the last time I changed the old washer, but it was getting bent out of
shape.
>
> Mike
>
> John Lagnese <jlagnese@massed.net> wrote:
> The sensors are cheaper to check. Does the light stay on at all rpms?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Smith"
> To: "ATS - Patrick Bureau"
> Cc: "car"
> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 9:59 AM
> Subject: RE: Wierd oil problem
>
>
> > Well, after reading this, let me throw this out there: My oil light
> blinks constantly. It's supposed to blink when oil is low, right? (I don't
> really know :) I always figured I had a bad sensor somewhere and the car
> just thought it was always low on oil. Now, you're saying that it probably
> means a bad oil pump? I'm pretty sure this is an item that was replaced
> when my engine was rebuilt as they had issues with finding metal in the
oil.
> >
> > Lost, Mike
> >
> > ATS - Patrick Bureau wrote:
> > Last time I had an intermitent oil light issue I was running 10w40 and
> > someone suggested I used 20w50, and when I switched the oil light stayed
> one
> > permanently, so I changed my oil pump. solved the problem...then again
it
> > had over 150K miles on it.
> >
> > maybe it's time to simply change the oil pump.?
> >
> > ATS - Patrick Bureau - txrocco@sbcglobal.net
> > ----------------------------------------------
> > MSN:ATSGTX@hotmail.com |YAHOO:ATSGTX@yahoo.com
> > ICQ:32918816 |AIM:Texasscirocco
> > ----------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > =>-----Original Message-----
> > =>From: scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org
> > =>[mailto:scirocco-l-bounces@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of L F
> > =>Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 6:51 PM
> > =>To: Cmr446@cs.com; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > =>Subject: Re: Wierd oil problem
> > =>
> > =>
> > =>Try going with 20w-50 full syn.
> > =>
> > =>I've read that >30 points difference between the first number and
> > =>the second is NOT a good idea.
> > =>
> > =>Larry
> > => ----- Original Message -----
> > => From: Cmr446@cs.com
> > => To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > => Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 1:28 AM
> > => Subject: Re: Wierd oil problem
> > =>
> > =>
> > => txrocco@sbcglobal.net writes:
> > => >
> > => > you using 20w50 ?
> > => >
> > =>
> > => Nope, 5w50 full synth.
> > =>
> > => robw_z@yahoo.com writes:
> > => > What is tipping you off to that it isn't picking up oil?
> > =>When the engine
> > => > turns, assuming all is well with the intermediate shaft and
> > =>gears, the oil
> > => > pump has no choice but to turn also. It could be a screwed
> > =>up pressure-relief
> > => > valve but that would be odd since your pump is new.
> > => >
> > => > -Rob
> > =>
> > => Ah, forgot to mention that the oil light stays on after the
> > =>engine is
> > => running, hydro lifters clattering. It does this only after the
> > =>car has sat for at
> > => least 12 hours. Just about anything less and the light goes
> > =>out as soon as
> > => the motor kicks in, everything sounds normal.
> > => About the only thing I can think of off hand is maybe the
> > =>backflow or
> > => check valve in the filter is weak, allowing the oil to seep
> > =>back into the pan.
> > =>
> > => Carl
> > => 77rocco
> > => 03vue
> > => _______________________________________________
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> > =>
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> >
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> > word (w?rd)
> > interj. Slang. Used to express approval or an affirmative response to
> something. Sometimes used with up. Source
> >
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> car
>
> word (w?rd)
> interj. Slang. Used to express approval or an affirmative response to
something. Sometimes used with up. Source
>
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