I have a 2002 Honda Accord w/a h22/H23 engine swap and a turbo. My problem is when the idle drops to 800 the oild pressure light flashes. I've changed all the bearings, oil/oil filter & checked the oil pump. Any suggestions?

 

i sent u instant message, hope that helps! usually, an oil pressure light means there is insufficent oil pressure. it is odd that your light comes on only when engine drops to idle. you could also check your oil level. i would also suggest that you check all of your oil related fittings as well. if they leak, or somehow got crimped, you might not have enough flow, which will give low oil pressure. above idle, it sounds as if you have sufficient pressure to prevent light from coming on. i would have a trusted mechanic take a look at it. good luck P.S. one last thing, i would also do a compression check to verify ring condition. if everything else is straight and your rings are going south, you could be losing oil pressure due to blow by.


Modified by BigHeadKid at 12:00 PM 1/12/2005

 

my light did that when i spun a thrust washer and it cause two turbos to break so be careful. good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BigHeadKid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> it is odd that your light comes on only when engine drops to idle. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Why? Seems totally normal to me considering that is the time when the pump is turning the slowest, and therefore displacing the least amount of oil.

You have a problem. There are a few possibilities:
1. There is excessive bearing clearance somewhere. Have you checked the cam journals?

2. The oil pump is simply worn out of tolerance.

3. There is excessive oil flow through the turbo.

4. Oil is too thin, either form the incorrect weight being used, excessive heat imparted into the oil by the turbo causing breakdown, or thinning of the oil caused by fuel contamination.

 

that is entirely true. although it hasn't happened to me, that dosn't mean it cant. just dont want to see homegirl blow up her motor

 

This happend on a truck i did some work on for a customer. It w as a loose connection to the oil pressure sending unit.

Check your connections and test the switch and sending unit, per Hlems manual.

 

Put in a real oil pressure guage. You still might be killing the engine. The dummy light will come on when there is almost no pressure. At idle the pressure should be close around 40 psi, 60 psi by the time you hit 1500 rpms. Depending on what your problem is the oil pressure may not be getting high enough to lubricate properly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by matt_in_sd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> At idle the pressure should be close around 40 psi, 60 psi by the time you hit 1500 rpms. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe the hot specification to be 10psi minimum at idle and 50 psi minimum at 3000 rpm.

 

Dont forget about dirty pickup screen. More common than most people like to believe.

-s

And yes, Idle warm should be around 25, but minimum is 10.
Use a mechanical oilpressure gauge to tell actual oil pressure, electric gauges dont work that well for accurate low pressure readings (autometer is what im refering to).

 

damn this is happening to my bro's car right now. Engine oil light comes on at idle and when he gives it gas or drives it it goes away. his is non turbo b18. i was guessing it was the oil pump.