Even revving the engine doesn't stabilize it. I noticed the fram filter I put on is a lot shorter than the purolator I removed. I have 15W-40 Rotella in it. The clip on the sending unit fits well. :shrug:

Unless you have a very worn engine, that oil viscosity is too high. Use 5W30 or 10W30 if the engine bearings are not badly worn.

The switch itself could have failed. Temporarily install a mechanical pressure gauge to see what is happening.

Does your oil pump assembly have a standpipe?

Ken

I changed the clip on the wire to the sending unit just to make sure I had a good connection there and now the light stays on all the time, no flickering.
I have run Rotella in all sorts of engines with good results and can't imagine it is causing this. The engine sounds fine. No valve train clatter or anything odd at all. I think it does have a stand pipe though.It extended up and inch or so beyond the threads.

I second the motion to connect a pressure gauge. Chances are good the oil warning light switch has simply failed, but assuming that could be costly.

You won't get excessive valve train clatter on a 1980 or older slant six with no oil pressure as the lifters are solid. Well, you might if you run it without oil pressure for long, but chances are a rod will come through the block before the valve train gets really noisy.

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Joshua

Took off the short fram filter and replaced it with the old longer one and the light went right out. Evidently the stand pipe does not play well with the short filter.
Thanks guys. Seems a real oil pressure gauge is not a bad idea though.
Brad

Frams are known too bee very close to the worst filter.Do a search and you will no longer use them.

Lesson learned. Thanks guys.

That's why I asked about the standpipe. Take a close look inside the filter that caused the problem. Are there any witness marks from the standpipe coming into contact with the filter internals?

Ken

say no to drugs,and fram oil filter,i try using wix but purolator dos the trick just my opinion.
ps i also run premiun blue 15-40 oil,many people run 20-50 on their car i prefer 15-40

Fram filters are the worst you can buy. If you don't believe cut it open and see for your self. A lot of cardboard and paper that doesn't stay in place when pressurized oil is pushed through it. You can guess the rest of the story. Friends don't let friends use Fram!
Cliff N

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This is my hooptie, there are many like it but this one is mine. With out my hooptie I am walking and without me my hooptie is broken down.
1980 dodge d150, sl6, 4sp od, air

Started to drive the car to work this morning BUT, oil light off at idle and at small throttle openings, give it a lil gas and LIGHT ON! Oil level is full, it does not come on under hard braking or turning. I am going to get a new sending unit and a new filter today and see what happens.

Connect a mechanical pressure gauge before throwing away money on replacing good parts with new parts. Diagnose the problem first.

Ken

I say get a good mechanical guage.....I put them in all my cars.That way you know for sure what you are running.
Andrew/Kidd

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Wife's: 64 Valiant
My: 70 Road Runner, 67 Barracuda, AND the 62 Valiant drag car!!

A mechanical gauge it shall be!

I've also been thinking about permanently replacing my oil pressure idiot light for a real gauge.

I checked the oil pressure manually when I swapped in engines, but I don't like having just an idiot light.

So....now the question is....where to mount that gauge where it won't look horrible and won't hit my leg (if it's under the dash), but will still be easy to see.

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1954 Ford, Tudor Mainline
1976 Plymouth Valiant, 4 door


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