Oil Pressure light

[chrisryder]

not sure what you mean by 'leaking' it sits in the flow like a brake pressure switch. unless it was leaking through the switch to the outside world.

at least the new switch seems to have sorted it. i'd still recommend a gauge sooner rather than later!

[rayofleamington]

if the light comes on before you start the engine and goes out when it's running - that's pretty much all you need to know.
Fitting a guage can increase paranoia and also make you worried about an engine when actually it's still got some life left.

If the oil pressure is bad you will see the light flicker on at idle after hard driving on a hot day - even in this case the engine can be made to last a lot longer.
I had this once when using cheap 20/50 from a local garage -I changed the oil again a week later for something with a decent spec and the light didn't come back on at idle. Some prefer to think cheap oil is a good idea. Ever since then I've used an oil with a good spec. As long as the spec is good, the price is not important - expensive oil with a poor spec isn't worth thinking about!

[MColes]

not sure what you mean by 'leaking' it sits in the flow like a brake pressure switch. unless it was leaking through the switch to the outside world.

That's exactly what it was going.

I had this once when using cheap 20/50 from a local garage -I changed the oil again a week later for something with a decent spec and the light didn't come back on at idle. Some prefer to think cheap oil is a good idea. Ever since then I've used an oil with a good spec. As long as the spec is good, the price is not important - expensive oil with a poor spec isn't worth thinking about!

I've had that experience, I also avoid the cheaper oils now.

[bmcecosse]

My ASDA 20W50 holds 70 psi up hill and down dale with the 'well used' engine being hard thrashed - and idles at 20/25 psi - nearer 40 psi if it's not been recently thrashed - which is rare.

[chrisryder]

i used to use asda 20/50. it was £6 a gallon. then they stopped stocking it! that was when my engine was leaking oil quicker than i could pour it in so it didnt bother me.

i was given a similar talking to about buying cheap oil and getting cheap oil and that the cheap oil could have been not helping my leaking. i have been using well known stuff since i rebuilt my engine, as it stays in the engine these days!

[bmcecosse]

I think the 'rebuilt my engine' is the important clue there !

[chrisryder]

well yeah, i decided that as i'd spent a lot on rebuilding it, i wasn't about to potentially damage it with possibly rubbish oil!

[bmcecosse]

Never had any problems with it - in many many years. Also can't see the problem getting a socket on the relief valve nut ??????