hi guys -

here's the story. 70 elcamino with 330HP 402 that is basically stock. (hei, carter carb, magnaflow exhaust). summer driven only. last october i was reading all of the info about adding zinc to the oil for better lubrication. few guys here recommended adding lucas break-in lube to the oil and just running with it. (directions say leave in for 1,000 miles or something to that effect.... and i only drive about 800-900 per year). so in late october i changed the oil with some 10w-40 and added the lucas. let it idle for about 15 minutes and then stored it in the garage for winter. (jack stands, covered the exhaust and carb, stabil in full tank of gas, disconnect battery). winter comes..... winter goes.

yesterday i pull it off the jack stands. uncover everything and she starts up on the second try. idle good. let it idle for about 30 minutes. water temp up to 180. drive her around the neighborhood 2-3 times. no leaks, no problems. pull out onto the state road. drive about 1/2 mile and come to a stop light. waiting at the light the oil light comes on. (this has never happened in the 10 years i have owned the car). pull in a church parking lot immediately. shut it off. nothing leaking. oil is full on dip stick. start if up. oil light NOT on. drive it 2 miles on the state road...runnning fine. good power. nice idle. sounds like it always has. turn around at a gas station and head 2 miles back home. come to the same light about 1/2 mile from home. waiting at the light, oil light comes on again. drive the 1/2 mile home. light stays on no matter what rpm i run. i hear no valve "racket" so i assume oil is circulating.

any ideas?
would the break in lubricant cause this? the oil seems really "thin" on the dip stick.
thanks guys

p.s. - i changed pressure sending unit about 5 years ago. (it was leaking)

Did you check out the sending unit? My 71 Elco, sometimes the key does not turn all the way back, when I start it, and the lite will stay on.

hmmmm.... i didn't think of that. i replaced the ignition switch last year. maybe its connected with that. i'll check into it. thank you

I suppose a new sending unit isn't all that much trouble or expense to try, but personally, the first thing I would do is connect up an oil pressure gauge and monitor IT while test driving.

should i just connect a pressure gauge were the sending unit goes?

should i just connect a pressure gauge were the sending unit goes?

I suggest you buy an oil pressure gauge and find out exactly what's going on. Could be just a sending unit for your light, but a $25.00 gauge will let you know what actually is going on.



Rocky

any recommendations on a oil pressure gauge?

any recommendations on a oil pressure gauge?


There probably isn't a nickles worth of difference between them, most places sell Autometer, If you buying one just to check your system, most auto parts stores usually sell several different brands.

You ask 10 different people, you will probably get 10 different answers. I personally use Stewart Warner.

Rocky

Autometer is pretty pricey. If you are just going to check it with a gauge and take it out later id get something cheap like a summit brand one or something.

update:

had a chance to look at the camino this weekend. thought i would try changing the oil switch first. its the cheapest ($9.88 at napa). installed the new switch. started her up. warmed up for about 15 minutes. drove the same route as i did when the light came on the first time. no light. oil switch did not look "bad" when i took it out. wire was very dirty but did not seem loose. there was some "glop" inside of it (black thick oil..... strange since i only drive about 800 miles on my oil each year and most times when i drain it it looks as good as when i put it in). air temp was about the same as the last time too. she ran perfect. so..... i guess i'll keep an eye on it and see what happens. thanks for all of the help.

oaw