so i have a brand new motor and the oil light stays on when the car is idling. but when i rev it up to like 2k rpm the oil light goes away but then comes back when it goes back to idling. it seems like its not getting enough oil when its idling. anyone else had this problem before? i was thinking its the oil pump. i changed the oil pressure sensor but no difference.

 

The oil light being on would have me very worried. when it comes on my ride say when you start it cold in the winter you can hear that it's low on oil pressure. Do you get that sound? I'd be dropping the oil pan to check the pickup and maybe even throw a new pump at to be safe. What's the story on the new engine? Could it be an assembly issue?

 

strongly doubt its a oil pump or oil pick up issue.

ditch the oil pressure sensor (buy a new one)

 

He said he replaced it already. That would of been my first move to.

 

whooopz! lol my bad. missed that part.

i dont mean to be a di*k but did you replace the right sensor?

 

If it's a new engine I would suspect an assembly issue, it could be something like an oil pressure bypass spring left out, a bad pickup, or the wrong bearings etc. use a gauge to verify pressure

 

I agree with Lostforawhile.

that will be the real info.

 

and for gods sakes don't be revving it up if the light is on, connect the gauge, start it and if it's low shut it off immediately. If it's low your next move depends on who built it, if it's done by someone else it's a warranty issue, if you built it, time to pull it and go through it. I would NEVER start a new engine with just an idiot light, they turn on at something like 5 psi, the first thing you do after you install one, is start it and verify oil pressure

 

Hey lostforawhile.


If the theres only 5 psi. wouldnt he have heared rod knock? tickinng? right away?

 

no because a lot of hondas have that as the limit at idle, there might be just enough pressure to keep it from destroying itself without being under load. I never understood why the idiot light was set so low, it could be something useful like 20 psi, then you would know you have a problem before major damage. in any case he needs to verify that pressure before he does internal damage, low pressure in a new engine is never good

 

Understood.

Lets say the oil pressure tests good. Faulty ecu?

 

no most of these cars still have the same basic oil pressure idiot light circuit that have always had. It's a simple ground to make the light come on, there might be other circuits that use that signal, but the light circuit is pretty simple, if the pressure tests good it might be the warning pressure switch

 

Good info

 

this thread needs more info, as in exactly what car/engine has the issue, was it rebuilt, how long has this been happening etc.

 

thanks for all the help guys. but i figured out the problem. i forgot to tighten the oil pick up. lol

 

hopefully some newbie will read this, and know not to start a new engine without a gauge to verify oil pressure, this could have gone really bad, I'm glad to see it was a simple issue and no damage was done

 

oil light on at idle can sometimes mean your crank clearances are not right...i would def look into making the bottom end was assembled correctly.

 

look two posts up, he forgot to tighten the pickup