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Intermittent Oil Pressure Light

PottedMeat

PottedMeat

Lifer
I've got a 88 Corolla where the Oil warning light comes on intermittently. The light is off for about 10 minutes after startup, then when I stop at a light or something it comes on. When I put any pressure on the gas the light goes off. I think the sensor is ok ( the sensor is closed when the car is off, open when engine on ), there are no leaks, and the dipstick says it's full. A quick googling says that this may be just due to engine wear - more clearance between parts -> less pressure. Is this something I should worry about? Is it worth fixing?

 
Originally posted by: PottedMeat
I've got a 88 Corolla where the Oil warning light comes on intermittently. The light is off for about 10 minutes after startup, then when I stop at a light or something it comes on. When I put any pressure on the gas the light goes off. I think the sensor is ok ( the sensor is closed when the car is off, open when engine on ), there are no leaks, and the dipstick says it's full. A quick googling says that this may be just due to engine wear - more clearance between parts -> less pressure. Is this something I should worry about? Is it worth fixing?
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If the light only comes on at idle after the engine is at normal operating temperature then you've nothing to worry about. If that is the only problem after 200K miles you are most fortunate.
 
Pressure drop. Use a thicker oil. For example, if you're using 10w30 now, move up to a 15w40, especially if you drive in any kind of heat. This is not uncommon in older engines, but remember that a thicker oil is really only masking the problem. At some point, it's rebuild time, which may be more expensive than it's worth. That said, you can probably nurse it along on thicker oil (up to and including eventually using 20w50 or even straight 30 weight), for another 100,000 to 200,000 miles.

ZV
 
Cool, thanks for the info. The car's still running well but I may just go for that $3000 texas car trade in program. If not I'll probably try the thicker oil.
 
and do change the sensor. I've had one that showed fine while on that gas and 0 at idle while hot. Soon as I replaced the sensor all was well again. They are only around $10. If your engine is worn out enough to kick the light on things aren't alright. Stepping up to 15w40 might shut the light off for awhile but I'd probably just go ahead and go 20w50 if its that worn. Really need to hook a real oil pressure gauge up to it and find out what kind of pressure you actually have.

Replacing the oil pump may or may not be a big deal just depending on how big of a PITA it is to get too if thats the problem. If its the bearings just run the thicker oil till it blows.
 
If you do use thicker oil you may want to switch to something a little thinner during the winter.

I'm running about 10 psi on one of my vehicles hot at idle and it's not really worrying me. I'm in AZ and the vehicle was just purchased (used cherokee), the oil looks new and clean so I'm betting that they used a pretty thin one, some people put in 5w30 here, I'll probably bump it up to a 10w30 or so and just leave it.
 
10psi is fine. My fresh rebuilt engine only runs 13psi hot. Those lights don't kick on till real low pressure. On mine thats 4psi.
 
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