Oil press. lite

[rlux4]

I don't know if this is related to the emer. flasher problem I've been trying to solve, but my oil press. and exhaust gas warning lights stay on now. I changed the oil and filter when putting everything back together with the new tranny. Part of my problem is I don't know where the sender is for the oil press. lite. I see a sender directly above the oil filter, is this for the light? And, will over-filling the oil cause the light to come on. I just checked the level and it is a little high.

[So Cal Mark]

the oil press. switch is just above the filter, and no the light won't come on if the level is high. Remove the wire from the sender and the light should go out. If it doesn't then that circuit is grounded somewhere

[rlux4]

Thanks Mark. You're right (as usual), unplugged the wire and the light went out. Here's the strange part of this problem: Doing a search on this topic I came across a post by Denise about low oil pressure after an oil & filter change. She changed the filter back and pressure came up. I went out and pulled the new filter (Fram) and there was no oil in it! I put the used one back on and I now have pressure again. The old filter had only 200-300 miles on it, so it's OK. I had my better half start the engine while the filter was off so I could check flow and it was good.
Good ol' Denise.

[mdrburchette]

I'm glad you sorted that problem out. What can go wrong, will go wrong with me so I'm glad my problems can benefit others.

[ventura ace]

Ron,
What is the brand and part number for the filter that did not work right? I've never heard of that before -- the oil filter being empty after the car has been run for a while. I assume that you didn't fill the filter before installing it. Many people recommend this practice, so that you have ready lubrication to all parts of the engine as soon as you crank up. I must admit that I seldom fill the filter before installing it, and I don't know that I've ever suffered any problem from it.

Alvon

[rlux4]

Alvon, it's a Fram #PH16. It is one of the small bodied filters, not that should make a difference. I'm glad I didn't fill it before I put it on. That sounds like a good practice, but if I had, I wouldn't have been able to tell when I took it off that it hadn't allowed flow through it. It doesn't seem to be plugged, and it fit the car's threads and rubber gasket.

[So Cal Mark]

are you sure you put oil in the engine and reinstalled the drain plug?

[ventura ace]

I've used the Fram PH16 before, without problems. I choose not to use Fram now, based on write-ups that I have read that put Fram filters in the 'poor' category. However, I don't think that was the problem in your situation.

Have you ever noticed how much oil pours out into your oil drain pan when you unthread the filter? That's not the oil inside the filter that is spilling out, but rather the oil in the oil filter pedestal and in the engine block oil galleys and other passageways throughout the engine and cylinder head. When you crank up the engine after an oil change, the oil pump sends oil to the oil filter. The filter has to fill before oil is routed up through all those passageways again. The oil pressure won't increase until all those passageways are filled again. So, it takes a little while for oil pressure to build up after a filter change. That's the reason for filling the filter -- to cut down on the time that the engine is rotating without good oil pressure in all the passageways.

Maybe not, but I bet that your oil pressure light may have turned off quickly if the PH16 had been filled.

Now, to demonstrate this principle, I just went outside to crank my spider. I had changed the oil and filter this weekend (Bosch 3402 filter), but I did not fill the filter with oil, and I hadn't yet driven the car. The engine fired right up, but the oil pressure light stayed lit for about 5 - 10 seconds before it finally went out, and the oil pressure gauge didn't show any pressure for another few seconds after that. I shut off the engine and waited a while, then recranked. Now, the OP light went out immediately, and the gauge came up immediately.

How long did you run the engine? You probably ran it longer than 10 seconds, so all this gibberish above may not apply, and you maybe had a weird filter. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to fill the filter.

From here on out, I should practice what I preach!

[rlux4]

Yes Mark, the oil was staying in the pan. I have made that mistake in the past. First thing I did though was check oil level. The reason I had asked if too much oil could cause the light to come on was because it was high, none had gone into the filter.
Alvon, I ran the car for close to a minute, several times. I kept expecting tappet noise. None came. After I put the other filter back on the problem was resolved immediately.

Maybe not, but I bet that your oil pressure light may have turned off quickly if the PH16 had been filled.

Maybe so, but I don't think so, if oil wouldn't go into it empty, seems less likely to me it would go into it full, more pressure to push against.
The only reason I put on a Fram was because it was free at Auto Zone last time I bought oil. Even at that price I think I paid too much.