Check Oil Light

spiritbear928 · Dec 10, 2007

OK. I have an 87 with a 2.9. I have had it a year. The oil sending unit was leaking a lot and was replaced 11 months ago. Since then my gauge always reads no oil pressue. Since I have driven 20000 miles since then, I assume it has pressure and the gauge is toast.

About a month ago the check oil light came on. I checked the oil and it was a quart low. I put a quart in and it was fine. Last night it came on again then went off on its own. Checked the oil. Its a quart low again. Didnt have time to put oil in. Drove to work and havent seen light since. wtf?

In addition, I have a hot start problem that I posted about as well. Probably not related.

HOw can I see what my oil pressure really is?

Is the check oil light checking pressure or level? I would have to think pressure because it never came on when the truck was leaking out a quart a day with the bad sending unit

I dont have a lot of money and I want this truck to run forever. It has to last at least 4.5 more years

Natedog · Dec 10, 2007

Install an oil pressure gauge if you want to know what your real pressure is.

Oil pressure light is for low oil pressure.....CHeck oil light is for the oil level, if it's low it should come on and stay on until you add oil. If you stop very abruptly it may come on momentarily as all the oil in the pan sloshes forward and then go off as it drains back down to the pan where it belongs...usually only happens if it's already low on oil though.

Jspafford · Dec 10, 2007

There is a seperate sensor for the oil pressure. It is on the front of the motor, driverside, sorta sticking out into the middle of nowhere off the block. I would check to see if the wire has come off that sensor.

Hahnsb2 · Dec 10, 2007

The "check oil" light is for the oil level (the sending unit is on the drivers side of the pan, you cant miss it), it comes on when it's quart low, I'm lazy and add a quart when it comes on...
The pressure sending unit moniters the pressure, all it really is is a switch, when it's over like 7PSI the needle goes up, under that and the needle flatlines. Did you use teflon tape with the new sensor? If so it can prevent the sending unit from grounding, and it wont show anything. I highly recomend going to your local auto parts store and purchasing a mechanical oil pressure gauge (around $20 usually), it will come with the nessesary fittings to plumb the gauge where the stock sending unit goes and it will be very accurate and not electronic dependant.

Check Oil Light

spiritbear928

10+ Year Member

Natedog

15+ Year Member

Jspafford

Logan Andrew Feb 17, 2012

Hahnsb2

15+ Year Member

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