oil light not going out - RUNNING NOW! THANKS!

[ylbill]

My 82 FI spider has been sitting for the winter. It was running great before storing it. I just went out and did an oil change and filter before I cranked it up for this season. No problem starting, but the oil light won't go out, so I shut it down after about 20 seconds or so. When I put it away for the winter I did an oil change and filter. When I pulled the old oil filter off there wasn't any oil in it? Would seem odd to me that the oil pump would just stop working like that, but I'm no mechanic. Any thoughts, suggestions, tips etc. is appreciated.

[TX82FIAT]

Bill, I have a couple questions if I understand the timing of the oil changes. Oil change before you stored the car and oil change first thing out of storage. Did you drive the car after the before storage oil change? When you changed the oil before storage did you fill the oil filter with oil before installing? Not sure how many miles you drive in a year but if you use good oil I'm not sure you needed to do an oil change. It is common for the oil light to come on as the oil pump primes itself. If you filled the car with oil and the car was running when stored I would run the car for a little longer than the 20 seconds to allow oil pressure to build up as oil cycles through the system.

[ylbill]

Bill, I have a couple questions if I understand the timing of the oil changes. Oil change before you stored the car and oil change first thing out of storage. Did you drive the car after the before storage oil change? When you changed the oil before storage did you fill the oil filter with oil before installing? Not sure how many miles you drive in a year but if you use good oil I'm not sure you needed to do an oil change. It is common for the oil light to come on as the oil pump primes itself. If you filled the car with oil and the car was running when stored I would run the car for a little longer than the 20 seconds to allow oil pressure to build up as oil cycles through the system.

Thanks for the reply and questions. I thought the same thing about the frequent oil changes, but I read somewhere on here that apparently the something breaks down even when just sitting, so for the small price and short time to do it, I decided to do it. I didn't drive the car after the oil change and didn't fill the filter before storing. I did fill it on this change. I did shut it down pretty quick, I guess I was a little paranoid about running it too long. I did start it again and shut it down quick again. How long do you feel it would be safe to run before shutting it down without damage?

[daved]

I agree, it might very well take a little longer. I always fill the filter before I put it on, even still the light usually goes off just when I am starting to get concerned. Other thought is that it is rather easy to knock the wire to the sending unit off it's connection. Is your oil pressure gauge also showing zero?

[ylbill]

I agree, it might very well take a little longer. I always fill the filter before I put it on, even still the light usually goes off just when I am starting to get concerned. Other thought is that it is rather easy to knock the wire to the sending unit off it's connection. Is your oil pressure gauge also showing zero?

I usually fill the filter too, but I didn't bother this time because I knew I wouldn't be driving it for the winter and would be doing another change after in the spring. I'll give it a bit more time tomorrow and check the gauge. Thanks

[majicwrench]

No way it should take more than 15 seconds to build pressure.
Keith

[TX82FIAT]

Agree it should not take more than 15 seconds. However, I would give if a few more seconds. Realize I'm not saying to run the car for a minute. You know a good volume of oil has just flowed down from the head . All this is assuming the right amount of oil was put in the car.

[ylbill]

Agree it should not take more than 15 seconds. However, I would give if a few more seconds. Realize I'm not saying to run the car for a minute. You know a good volume of oil has just flowed down from the head . All this is assuming the right amount of oil was put in the car.

As far as oil amount, I actually accidently went over the MAX line about a 1/8" of an inch, but didn't think that should be a concern. What do you guys think? I'm going to try again today. I don't know what I was thinking before, but I don't have an oil gauge, just the idiot light. At one time I was going to switch out the clock for a gauge, but re-did the clock instead. I'm nervous about running it too long and causing damage. Suggestions on my next step if the light still doesn't go out is appreciated. Its been sitting overnight. Is this more concern when cranking it over now? Thanks

[TX82FIAT]

I see you are in MA. Is the car in a heated garage? Sitting overnight should not be an issue with the oil in the crankcase and may help oil settle in pan for the oil pump. A slight overfill of 1/8 of an inch? I'm not sure how much that is. I would not think that is a lot and a lot of people including myself run the engine with a little extra oil when running it hard. Cold oil is not going to flow as freely especially at start up in freezing temperatures.

Make sure you check your oil sending unit on the back of the oil filter housing unit. I can't give you an amount of time to run your engine with the light on. The light on is a bad sign and you are smart to proceed with caution. Is there any sign of damage on the bottom of your oil pan?

[ylbill]

I see you are in MA. Is the car in a heated garage? Sitting overnight should not be an issue with the oil in the crankcase and may help oil settle in pan for the oil pump. A slight overfill of 1/8 of an inch? I'm not sure how much that is. I would not think that is a lot and a lot of people including myself run the engine with a little extra oil when running it hard. Cold oil is not going to flow as freely especially at start up in freezing temperatures.

Make sure you check your oil sending unit on the back of the oil filter housing unit. I can't give you an amount of time to run your engine with the light on. The light on is a bad sign and you are smart to proceed with caution. Is there any sign of damage on the bottom of your oil pan?

Garage is not heated. I'll check the oil sending unit. I did have a heck of a time getting the old filter off and really couldn't figure out why, because I put it on hand tight. The oil pan is fine. I replaced it last Spring and ran the car all summer. Thanks

[daved]

Have your considered removing oil pressure light sensor and temporarily installing a mechanical oil pressure gauge at that point. Might require some sort of adapter fitting to do that. Another thought, not sure that there is any direct way to test the oil pressure light sensor but I don't think they are very expensive, you might want to replace it.

[ylbill]

Have your considered removing oil pressure light sensor and temporarily installing a mechanical oil pressure gauge at that point. Might require some sort of adapter fitting to do that. Another thought, not sure that there is any direct way to test the oil pressure light sensor but I don't think they are very expensive, you might want to replace it.

I'll do some checking and testing. Hopefully I can figure this out without destroying anything. Thanks for the suggestions.

[ylbill]

Sorry for my ignorance. Thank God for this forum Anyone have a picture of where the oil sending unit is? Here is a shot behind the oil filter. Thanks

[fiat218]

Just reading this, I am wondering why you would fill your oil filter., normally you start it then it fills,
When you change oil in you other cars/ trucks,do u fill the filter? When you take you car/ truck in to get a oil change. Do they fill it?

[fiat218]

I agree, it might very well take a little longer. I always fill the filter before I put it on, even still the light usually goes off just when I am starting to get concerned. Other thought is that it is rather easy to knock the wire to the sending unit off it's connection. Is your oil pressure gauge also showing zero?

I usually fill the filter too, but I didn't bother this time because I knew I wouldn't be driving it for the winter and would be doing another change after in the spring. I'll give it a bit more time tomorrow and check the gauge. Thanks

You change your oil when you park it,then in the spring you change it again? :