Club 80-90 Forums

The oil light on my 1.9 petrol glows very faintly for on start up for 10mins or so then goes out. Should I be concerned?

Thanks

Tom

Does it come on fully when just ignition is turned on with no engine running?
If it does then its probably nothing to worry about. Could just be either oil between switch contacts or a little dampness causing some voltage leakage.
If top of switch is grubby, give it a quick clean, see if that improves anything but if not it shouldn't be a problem.
If this has only just started happening then my best guess would be voltage leakage due to dampness and colder weather. Could even be behind the dashboard and goes when warmed up a bit.

Hi Tom
Should you be concerned? Short answer is I dont know, yet.
What needs to be determined is if its a faulty oil light or low oil pressure, although how an engine can take ten minutes to get to oil pressure is one I havent seen so far.
You can plug a oil pressure test gauge into the sender unit hole and that will tell you the pressure the engine is running at. I have one here but you are quite away off, so its probably pay a local garage time.
IF the oil pressure is low it could be for a variety of reasons other than terminal engine wear;
Lunbricant lost its viscocity, lack of lubricant, oil pressure relief valve needing adjusting or replacing, silt in the gallery to the sender, faulty oil pump.
if its the oil pressure warning light then its sender wire or instrument panel PCB in all liklihood.
Sorry to give you so many possible options but I think firstly taking it to get the pressure checked is in order then go on from there.

has it got enough/the correct oil in it? if it's thin or old oil then you will get pressure drops at idle

If the oil pressure switch gets moisture around the terminals then, as VWCamperfan says, the LED will glow faintly. The oil pressure sensor is a switch and either the LED will be normal brightness or off. This problem is made worse if the pushrod shield has been removed. It sounds very much like a small current is leaking across the pressure switch terminals due to damp or crud.

Just to throw a wild card in ..... when our Nokia phone charger is plugged in our oil light pulses dimly (only visible in the dark), take the charger out and no throbbing light.

Ian