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Oil light

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:49 am
by kjm
I was test driving our Minor this am , the green oil warning light comes on while car is ticking over but goes out once you pick up some revs , any ideas?

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:00 pm
by PSL184
Engine kippered ?
Oil pressure warning lght is set at 4psi. If it comes on at all with engine running it would indicate worn out engine or at the least a u/s oil pump. I'd fit a wet line oil gauge to see exactly what the oil pressure is just in case your sender unit has gone off on one.....

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:50 pm
by MarkyB
As above, or has it been a while, and many short journeys since an oil change?
If the oil smells strongly of petrol it may have thinned out after a lot of cold starts with the choke.

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:03 pm
by mike.perry
Does it rattle when you start up?

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:40 pm
by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
I would think that you probably have a faulty switch as the last day I was down the engine was going great and pulling well with no nasty noises.

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:39 am
by RobThomas
Two things spring to mind. One is that you can get switches that operate once the oil has dropped to 25 psi (on my Midget I even have an adjustable one) and idea number 2 is to check to see that it isn't the dynamo charging lamp plonked into the oil light hole by mistake. They'll both be on whilst the engine is dead so you might not have noticed it. Silly idea, but might be worth checking?

Can you unscrew the switch and blow into it? Might also need to be earthed. It would also be possible to wedge a bike pump against it or even an old fuel pump (3 psi approx) if you cobble together some hose bits.

Hope this helps without sounding a bit like 'teaching grandma to suck eggs'.

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:06 pm
by stevey
if it comes on it might be an idea to change the switch as david says. mine did it flickering at idle, but there was plentey of oil in the sump. A new switch cured it.

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:52 pm
by mike.perry
Not such a silly idea Rob, my Traveller had the lights changed over

oil switch

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:56 pm
by kjm
thanks everyone , had the electrics checked today , problem has gone :D