Oil pressure light coming on during idle

[David]

How worried should I be about this? Lamp occasionally started flickering on while idling at traffic lights a couple of weeks ago, goes out straight away when you blip the throttle and would stay off during normal driving.

However, it's coming on and staying on at idle all the time now. Still goes out when I rev the engine, which sounds completely normal and isn't misbehaving in any other way that I can detect.

Oil and filter were changed a few weeks ago, oil level on dipstick is fine.

Here's a video of what's happening:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6lyok04s2ppaf ... 0light.mp4

Hoping it's just the sensor gone bad?

[chris_v888]

hi are you low on oil? what oil you useing? and yes switch

[David]

Hi, oil level appears fine - it's 10w40 mineral. Was the first time I've changed it since getting the car last year so no idea what was in it before. Engine only has about 50-60k on it, seemed to run smoother following change too

In fact, first time I can remember the light flickering on was just prior to changing the oil, which seemed to cure it straight away.

Hmm...

[Caprigear]

For a start you don't want to use that oil in that engine. Ditch it and put in a good quality 20/50 grade of oil, change the oil filter while you're at it.

[David]

For a start you don't want to use that oil in that engine. Ditch it and put in a good quality 20/50 grade of oil, change the oil filter while you're at it.

Hi Martin, interesting - I thought 10w40 was the norm and that 20w50 is best for pintos with super-high mileage?

[Andrew 2.8i]

I thought 10w40 was the norm and that 20w50 is best for pintos with super-high mileage?

Hi,
I think it's fair to say that opinions on this forum differ on this point!
(Search for similar recent threads).

Andrew.

[Craigorypeck]

David, get some 20/50 in there, the higher viscosity will raise the pressure a bit and put that light out.
The car is what, 37 being a mk2.
An engine rebuild in that time may not have included the oil pump! 20/50 all day for me in a pinto unless its -10º

[Peter-S]

For an engine that age especially I agree 20/50. Did this happen at all before you put the 10/40 in?

[Caprigear]

When these engines were first designed the oil they ran was 20/50. All this arty farty modern stuff is fine for modern technology but I certainly wouildn't use it .

[Andrew 2.8i]

Ditch it and put in a good quality 20/50 grade of oil.

Martin,
Do you recommend any particular brand of oil?
I use Halfords classic car oil 20/50 which is made, I think, by Comma. Is this good enough or should I ditch it for something else?

Andrew.

[Terra-Kotta]

If you go down in oil viscosity you WILL drop oil pressure. Pintos were built at a time when tolerances were huge. Get some 20/50 in it and don't piss about. This is oil and is the lifeblood of your engine.

[Craigorypeck]

Then take the cam cover off, remove king coil lead so engine doesn't start, crank the engine and make sure you have oil from all the holes in the spray bar.
Then check your valve clearances with a set of feeler gauges.
Then smile knowing you've done good.
Hows Belfast City these days?

[David]

Thanks all - quick oil change this afternoon for some 20/50 and another new filter has solved the problem. Sender must be fine, now have a spare on hand just in case though.

Will check the spray bar next time, is it worth removing it for a quick clean even if all seems well?

Belfast is baking hot today, great weather for a few car jobs followed by a shakedown run round the ringroad!

[Craigorypeck]

Nice!
Quick rinse with thinners would help the spray bar.
You still doing Noise annoys?

[Mc Tool]

I have been using Penrite HPR full synthetic 20/60 ( with Full Zinc Technology ) . I think its good for the cam wear.... the zinc. Huge tolerances ? yeah, I gotta say I was surprized how quick the oil pressure bleeds down when I stop the ( new ) motor

[David]

Nice!
Quick rinse with thinners would help the spray bar.
You still doing Noise annoys?

Good stuff, another job to add to the list. Should probably replace the cam cover gasket too while I'm at it, I gather a rubber replacement is the way to go these days?

Still doing the column - ain't been the same since Fighting With Wire called it a day though!