Oil light flickering on and off. Is this the part I need, probably?

[SWRT]

This morning on my way into work I drove about 2 miles and then the oil light started
to come on so I shut the car down and coasted off the road. I walked home, grabbed
the other Festiva and went to Walmart for a filter, oil, pan and some shop towels. I
changed the oil (not sure when the previous owner did...looked ok, but whatever) and
filled it full of 3.5q. I drove home and as it warmed back up the light started to flicker
on and off. I shut it down again and there was no oil leaking so I'm thinking the sensor
for it is bad or something.

https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1128215&parttype=4588

I found some old threads and people suggested the oil pressure sender. Is that the same
as the sensor? Not really sure if this is the right part. I have a 1993, but I'd assume the
1992 is the same and that's the link that leads you to the parts list so I used it.

[WmWatt]

Can you check the oil pressure? There is a filter in the crankcase which may be clogged. There is a pump which may be worn.

[SWRT]

Can you rent an oil pressure gauge from Autozone?
I installed a permanent mechanical oil pressure gauge from
sunpro that turned out to be a mistake so I'm hoping there's
something I can just throw on there to test and then remove.

Hmmmm...what type of filter is in the crankcase and where is it at?

I considered the pump. Hoping it's not though.

[SWRT]

Autozone doesn't rent gauges. Harbor Freight does have one for $25 though

[jason_]

If it flickers after the oil get hotter and thinner, you might have bigger headaches.

I built my Chevy tight.

10w40 pegs nearly 70psi cold and idling. Warm idle its 20psi.

Food for thought. Good luck.

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[sketchman]

Yeah, the part I needed when mine did that was an engine. lol

But mine stayed on from cold. I wouldn't rule out a serious issue till I saw what the pressure was.

[WmWatt]

Best ignore what I wrote about a filtre in the crankcase. I recall reading something on here. It may be a screen or magnet, not a filtre.

[ryanprins13]

Its a screen on the pickup tube from the oil pump.
If you have time the easiest way to check is to take the sending unit (same as sensor) off your good festiva and put it on the bad car and vice versa. If light goes out it probably was the sender. Then with the one from the bad car on the good car run it for a bit. If it lights up it was definatly the sender. If not then you have to look more.
Could be a loose wire from the sender to the cluster.
Could be an engine problem.
Light comes on at 2-5psi
My festiva idles at 70psi cold in the summer with 10w30. So thats a big problem if its an engine problem.


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[SWRT]

Yeah, no joke. Well, thanks for all the help so far guys. I'll have to swap over that sensor
when I get some time. For now I'll just drive the Insight. I could stop by Harbor Freight and
pick up an oil pressure gauge at lunch since it's right next to Taco Bell and I dont have any
food today. May not be a bad idea just to have one regardless.

And yeah...that would definitely suck if it was below 5psi. We'll see, I guess. I'll keep you all
updated

[ryanprins13]

Yup, putting an actual guage on would help you way more. If it was not your sender and was an engine problem you would need one anyway to diagnose it


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[SWRT]

Yep, definitely. Plus it's an excuse to eat Taco Bell

[SWRT]

Ok, I bought a compression tester. If anyone could point me in the direction of the sensor I'd appreciate it

[ryanprins13]

Did you buy a compression tester or an oil pressure guage?
Compression tester goes in the spark plug holes to measure compression, oil pressure tester threads into the 1/8npt hole after you remove your sending unit. Its right near your oil filter. Sensor with one wire coming off it. Takes a big wrench


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[SWRT]

Do'h. Meant oil pressure gauge. They were sitting next to each other and I wasn't thinking, but I got the pressure gauge.
Sweet Thanks for that. I'll try and test it tomorrow after work if it isn't raining. Thought it may have been the cluster plugs so I pulled those off but they look fine so I'll check the wire/plug coming off of the sensor and do the pressure test

[SWRT]

How much oil should I expect to come out? I'm currently living I'm an apartment