How low does the oil need to get for the light to come on? I just got a day off for the first time in 2 weeks so i washed my car and checked the oil, turns out it was 2 quarts low (scary). Seems i had forgot all about the oil pan leaking

 

I would say it would come on once you cant get a reading on the dipstick, which would be around 2 quarts or so. So that sounds about right what happened with you.,

 

Well maybe mine is F'ed up because i had to add 1.5 quarts just to get it to touch the dip stick

 

No, the light wont come on until you lose oil pressure.....which is about 3 or 3.5qts low. Basically as long as the oil pickup is submerged in oil, the engine has oil pressure. As soon as it drops below there the pump will pump air vs oil since air is the lighter of the 2. Also, if you cant figure it out from the above mentioned facts, even being 2qts low on oil will make no difference because you will still have the same oil pressure as 4qts. Now the oil will become contaminated faster, but other then that, no adverse effects.

 

95 integra, thanks alot you have set my mind a peace, i was scared that i could have messed up my bearings. You always got the answers for me (you helped me out with my idle problems a while back) for you my friend

 

No problem, always glad to help. Also, (just for general info/search) the reason its called a "dummy" light is that by the time it comes on, you've already lost oil pressure. That means by the time you see the light and cut off the engine, you've probably already done damage. Now oil does have some residual protection (it sticks for a little while and others will leave a gold film on parts for added protection), however most people say you have about 10 seconds from the time the light comes on until you've done damage. After all, it doesnt take long for metal on metal contact to rub all the oil off when its spinning over at 3k.

Also, another random note is that my lexus has a second sensor that is an oil level sensor and goes off if the engine is a quart low. Scares the **** outta people....its kinda funny to see them come on the boards like, "OMFG, my oil light came on. Is my engine trash now?"

 

Good to know... I wonder how hard it would be to hook up a sensor like you said your lexus has. hhhmmmm