Oil light; Possible problem

[rocketman_471]

I was sitting for a few minutes with the key turned over but the motor off, so that I could listen to the radio while waiting for a friend to get home. I decided to go to the store to get something to drink. I turned the car over and the oil light was steadily blinking. I kinda panicked and turned off the car. I let it sit for about 5 seconds and turned it straight over and the oil light turned off like it usually does. This is the first time this have ever done that. Also, sometimes in the morning, when it's cold, after I turn the car over, the oil light will flicker for a second or less and then turn off. Do I have a problem or am I just being paranoid? Thanks.

[Brandoncb7]

Have you checked the oil lol?

[rocketman_471]

I should have mentioned that. Yes, I did check the oil. Plus, I just did an oil change less than a week before.

[NAiL05]

Oil pressure light:

1. Pressure is below 8psi as I recall it will turn on
2. Low oil it will turn on
3. Dented oil pan - it will turn on. I had this problem when I hit a bump.
4. Bad sensor connection.

4 easy things to check except for numba 1 which is a very rare occurance.

[HondaFan81]

Low oil pressure light triggers at 4 psi, which is extremely low. Anytime this light goes on or flickers, turn off the engine immediately and fix.

If light flickers, the pressure is borderline 4 psi. If it stays on it is below that level.

Typically you will have low oil pressure issues at idle/low engine RPM. Oil pressure increases based on higher engine RPM since oil pump is crankshaft driven.

Oil pressure sender unit is located above your oil filter. They can fracture, leak and result in lower pressure readings. Typically oil will leak out onto your exhaust piping near catalytic converter location and you will smell burnt oil when vehicle parked/stopped.

[NAiL05]

Well shows how long I haven't been on the boards. Damn memory is getting rusty.

[rocketman_471]

Well mine doesn't stay on. It momentarily flickers for half a second right at start up when cold. I'll check everything this week sometime.

[rocketman_471]

Oh and my oil sender unit is less than a year old. It went out and was leaking right on the exhaust like you said.

[Chicano2005]

1996 vtec

i had the oil light on for a long time.
turns out it was the vtec pressure sensor.

it would light up after driving for a little bit.
and it would flicker when i was under 5mph.

EDIT: i know its a different engine but it might help.