why is my oil light flashing and my car has oil?

[809king]

it just started doing that but it only happens when im going slow or at a stop light..

[visualpoet]

If you're not low on oil, it sounds like you may have a bad sending unit (the oil pressure sensor) or the pump could be going bad on you.

[F20A CB7]

sometimes these sensors become loose, just check first to see if its all the way in b4 you start buyin stuff.


very seldom do our pumps fail, so it may just need a new switch.

[GhostAccord]

Check the wiring & connection to make sure that it's not loose or corroded.

If that all seems good you should test your engines oil pressure. Your going to need a pressure guage w/a 1/8" x28 BSTP adapter for this test.
• Remove oil pressure switch (located just above the oil filter)
• Install pressure gauge
• Start the engine, shut if off immediately if there is no pressure. You are going to have to repair the oil pumping problem if this is the case.
• If there is pressure, allow the engine to come up to operating temp (fan cycles twice)
- Pressure should be a minimum of 10psi @ idle (700 ±50rpm) and a minimum of 50psi @ 3000 rpm.
• If oil pressure is within these specs and the light still comes on, replace the switch.
• If the oil pressures are not within the above specs you should inspect the oil pump.

[batever]

Flashing oil pressure light means pressure below 3 psi for less than a second at time.

It can also be due to a faulty pressure sending unit.

Test ASAP. In general, it's usually just the sending unit so installing a new one it the way to go.

But borrow a pressure kit while you're at it because it's just as easy to actually test the oil pressure once the sending unit is off as it is to not test it, and it's better to know your oil pressure readings than to not know.

Of course, some would say, replace the switch and the light goes off, then you had no problem.

Which is not necessarily true because the switch only indicates rock bottom low oil pressure of less than 3 psi. You could have a systemic oil pressure issue and the oil pressure indicator wouldn't tell you necessarily.

[batever]

sometimes, a loose wiring on the sensor or faulty sensor contacts will be shaking around with the extra engine vibrations that occur at low rpms. Thus yielding a warning light indicator even in the absence of low oil pressure.

[demechanic]

It is most likely a leaking sending unit. Replacement is a good fix.

[dano28]

As bizarre as this may sound....low oil pressure can be caused by worn main bearings !!!!

Pour in a can or two of STP. If your oil pressure light stops blinking you will know that the problem is bearing wear.