[V8] Engine Oil Pressure Warning

[Buchholz, Steven]

... you did not report this, so apologies for the "stupid" question ... 

She did see that the oil pressure gauge in the dash was indicating good pressure ... correct?  As long as the oil pressure gauge has a good reading you should be able to dismiss the auto check warnings.  

If the oil pressure warning is the only report you see you might want to check the oil pressure switch before tearing apart the dash.  The warning chime is controlled by an independent 0.3 bar pressure switch ... which attaches to a blue wire.  The switch should be located on the casting which the oil cooler lines attach to ... at the front of the engine down low on the right.  You can test this theory by disconnecting the switch and seeing if the problem continues.  I don't know if the switch is NO or NC, so if the chime comes on when you disconnect the switch, then grounding the blue wire should do the trick.  

If you're seeing any other odd behavior of the instruments and/or auto-check system then you might as well go ahead and fix the instrument cluster.  On my car #2 from time to time the IC appears to completely lose power, and the seatbelt warning flashes when power is restored ... so I know I need to address the IC.  

Steve B
San José, CA (USA)
> 
> Has anyone ever had problems with their 'Auto-Check' system engine oil
> pressure warning?
> 
> The black '90 V8 with 150 000 miles has been running well.  I have owned it
> for about 1 1/2 years.  My GF is the principal driver.  About two weeks ago
> she reported that the engine oil pressure warning came on (red warning
> accompanied by irratating tones) while driving on the highway without the car
> missing a beat.  She stopped, of course, and called me.  I was able to drive
> out to her to have a look at the car for myself.  Car ran well and oil level
> normal--warning did not come on while I was evaluating the situation.   I sent
> her onwards and it happened again several hours later.  It has been an
> infrequently recurring problem the past few weeks, and it happened most
> recently to me today when I briefly drove it around.  No signs of any
> mechanical distress.  I was sitting idling when it went off and was able to
> inspect the oil pressure gauge at the same time--the needle indicated normal
> oil pressure.
> 
> I can't think of any recent changes to the car that could account for this new
> problem.  I have always used the same oil (Castrol GTX 5W-30) which I realize
> is a little on the light side for the summer, but I have used this oil since
> taking over ownership without problem.
> 
> I am inclined to ignore this warning, but would prefer that it was operating
> properly.  I am concerned that it might incr. in frequency and become a real
> nuisance while serving no useful purpose.
> 
> Gunter
> (2) '90 V8's
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