My oil light is flickering when I'm stopped at lights or idling, or when I'm turning the steering wheel adjusting into a parking spot -- at first I thought maybe to do with the power steering... but I just added a subwoofer, and now it also flickers as the sub hits. However, as soon as I step on the gas and go, it goes away completely. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Riley

AT A STOP OR WHILE PARKING THE MOTOR IS IDLING LOW ESP WITH AUTO TRANS AND THE OIL PRESSURE IS DROPPING TOO LOW TRIGGORING THE IDIOT /LOW OILPRESSURE LIGHT.

What yr,size,type motor is this?

This usually happens on old worn out motors/bottom ends but could happen with a new motor that has problems.

Idle the motor up a little higher and try a higher viscosity oil. For ex if your currently running 5w-30 try 10w-40,if your running 10w-30 or 10w40 try 15w-40 or 20w-50 in summer months/warmer weather only.

Idling the motor up and swithching to higher visc oil will help for now but motor will lilely need a rbld in the future.

Scott

A rebuild? Yikes. I figured it was just gonna be upgrading to a new alternator or a new battery because of all the new stereo components I put in.

It's the standard 350 v8 that came in the Cutlass in 72. I've only had the car a few months... but the engine runs and sounds great.

If you can, put an oil pressure gauge on it just for a test. Low oil pressure at idle never hurt an engine. NO OIL pressure is of course a problem. I worked in Chrysler's engine development department 30 years ago and we had oil pressure switches that cut in the light at 4 psi and we had no problems. I suspect that the low oil pressure you have is the result of many years of wear, but may not be a real problem.

It sounds to me like the electric load put on the engine is pulling your rpms down which can turn on an idiot light. Just turn up the idle a little see what happens.

Geta cheap mechanical oil psi gauge and hook it up to get the real pressure reading with the motor hot & idling in gear.

I wouldlike to see at least 15-20 lbs at a min at idle but rule of thumb is 10lbs per 1k rpms is the min for acceptable oil pressure in a motor at operating temp.

What oil are you running?

Have you tried heavier visc oil like i suggested?

Have you idle the motor up a little too to ic oil psi at idle a little bit if possible?

You need to verify what your oil psi is at hot idle in gear with a mech oil gauge.

But even if the oil pressure ends up low at idle meaning worn bottom end it could last yrs esp if you dont abuse it and dont put tons of miles on it but i would use thicker visc oil and raise the idle to inc hot idle oil psi.

BTW,if you reread his original post the oil light was comming on before he installed the new electrical equipment,then he stated the intensity of the light changed after the new elec equip was installed.

That could possibly happen because the new elec equip draws more amps at idle due to more load on alternator with the new elec equip thus lowering ilde some more making the oilo pressure drop even more fully engauging the low oil psi sender light to come on full tilt.

scott

I just added a subwoofer, and now it also flickers as the sub hits.

Low voltage situation??

Can I get an oil pressure monitor thingy at Autozone? I'll try to see what comes up.

I'll adjust the idle as well. I assume it's just a screw somewhere on the carburator? I'll check my assembly manual. I've done some suspension work and interior stuff, but as far as the engine goes I'm a complete and utter nooooob. [I don't know what it is, I've always liked tinkering with my cars, but never with the engine really except for intakes, exhaust, etc. And yes, I know that's the opposite how most car guys think...]

Anyway, I'll try this all when I have an extra few minutes to mess around with it. Thanks.

Just wanted to say I did adjust the idle and the light no longer comes on. Thanks guys!

Cool, I wants was workin on a toyota (BAD THING TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS SIGHT) that would idle very low and cause the oil light to come on. The customer never complained about a rough idle just the oil light. All it was was the idle air control valve sticking a little causing a low rpm condition. Glad we could help!

Riley,since increasing the idle speed made the oil psi light stay off this shows the oil psi was low due to a worn bottom end/bearings that has wider clearances.

So with that said you should also move up to a higher visc oil like i suggested in my earlier post to you to help inc the idle/low speed oil pressure a little so re-read it to see which oil to change to.

Scott

thanks Scott. I have 10-w40 in there, so I should switch to 20-w50?

thanks Scott. I have 10-w40 in there, so I should switch to 20-w50?

Yes. I would also add a oil pressure gauge so you know how much pressure you really have.

Greg,i think you missed the fract he stated the oil psi light was comming on at idle in gear or while turning the wheel for parking BEFORE he installed the subwoffer .

But then after he installed the subwofer the oil psi ight kind of following the beat of the subwofer,could be the heavy vibes could also be voltage draw as you stated or [poss grn issues.

But since the oil psi light was coming on BEFORE he installed the subwofer I really think that was definately more of a lowt oil psi thingat idle ,could poss be an alt on way out or mis adj v/ reg or bad oil psi sending unit too.

Thats why i suggested he check the oil psi with an inexspensive mech oil psi gauge to verify if that was really the case.

Scott