Oil light flashing.

[tvacc]

Hi all,

First time we took the Elise out after the trip back from Orlando. We took it to a LOONY breakfast on Sunday. When we got back, still had a few gal of fuel so I wanted to burn that off before putting car away for the winter. Pulled out of the driveway and the oil light flashed. Drove a few blocks and same thing. Not at idle, just driving. I checked the oil level, and all is ok.

First some ideas on what it could be. I am thinking that the wire might be loose on the sender unit. But I had another thought. Perhaps it is time to put in an oil pressure gauge and oil temp gauge.

I see I can buy the cluster holder from blackwatch. Dont see it anywhere else. How about the guages? Mechanical oil pressure with a hose, or do I go with electrical with a sender.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[Drew09]

Possibly a bad oil pressure switch.

[Surge]

I wouldn't assume it's a loose wire on a sensor until you've exhausted every other possibility. Did your car get the oil cooler recall?
Very dangerous to your car's engine to continue driving with the light on!

[Drew09]

Originally Posted by Surge

I wouldn't assume it's a loose wire on a sensor until you've exhausted every other possibility. Did your car get the oil cooler recall?
Very dangerous to your car's engine to continue driving with the light on!

The recall isn't out until Jan.

[Type82]

I sent you a PM.

[Jack FFR1846]

Don't assume it's a bad sender. Perhaps get the sandwich eliminator Toyota adapter and try again without the oil coolers hooked up. If the light's still there, replace the sender, but be ready to do an oil pump.

[Apex_in_sno]

Originally Posted by tvacc

Hi all,

First time we took the Elise out after the trip back from Orlando. We took it to a LOONY breakfast on Sunday. When we got back, still had a few gal of fuel so I wanted to burn that off before putting car away for the winter. Pulled out of the driveway and the oil light flashed. Drove a few blocks and same thing. Not at idle, just driving. I checked the oil level, and all is ok.

First some ideas on what it could be. I am thinking that the wire might be loose on the sender unit. But I had another thought. Perhaps it is time to put in an oil pressure gauge and oil temp gauge.

I see I can buy the cluster holder from blackwatch. Dont see it anywhere else. How about the guages? Mechanical oil pressure with a hose, or do I go with electrical with a sender.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

Go with an electrical gauge, and it's not your oil pump, if it was you'd have the oil light on all the time....
BTW, these types of pressure switches ground when on (on in this case is low pressure), so it won't be a loose wire...

[JohnnySniper]

You store your car with an empty tank?

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by JohnnySniper

You store your car with an empty tank?

Just saw this. Yes. I store my cars with the tanks as empty as I can. I also put in blue Stabil.

My thoughts are that with the Ethanol in the gas, why would you want more of this corrosive stuff in you tank? Get it as low as you can and then put in an ethanol stabilizer like the blue stuff from Stabil. It is the marine version of the product.

You will get phase separation over the winter. If I can treat 1 gal with something that may inhibit seperation, that is easier then treating 10 gal. And I know that if you fill you tank, you get less chance of absorbing water, but with the tank sealed, will you get that at all? In my other Lotus cars with fuel cells, I try and drain them completely.

Open to more ideas on the subject.

At the cost of this ethanol crap, why dont we put pressure on the goverment to stop it? It is only increasing the cost of gas, food and meat. It is just crazy.

edit. I see you are in Buffalo. Why not join the LOONYs? We do have a good time.

[tvacc]

I have purchased the gauge pod from Black Watch. I have ordered an oil pressure and oil temp gauge with a sending unit for both, the light and a T to put it all together. I will install it. Let you all know what happens.

[Ukhtar]

Good luck with the install, having peace of mind by using that oil gauge is priceless.

[komiko]

next on the to do....