Oil Light Flickering

[Andy_S_T]

I've just started my Rocco for the first time in a couple of years (was very impressed as it only took about a minute of turning over) as I'm just starting to put her back on the road. The oil light is flickering on, not fully though, and the buzzer isn't sounding. Do any of you have any ideas what may be causing it, and is there an easy way to check the actual pressure of the oil? The tappets are as quiet as a mouse so it obviously has pressure.

Cheers,

Andy

[the edmundator]

I would check all the electrical contacts first, chances are there's a bit of corrosion going on after that length of time. Then I'd try a new sensor if it's easy to swap over.

[PeteGLi]

Check the oil level, if you haven't already.

[Nate]

is it flickering just at tickover?

[hyperdrinky]

If its been sitting for 2 years I would change the oil and filter as a matter of course. It could be that the oil has just drained over the two years it has been sitting and needed a little time to get back up into the galleries. Take it VERY gently for the first few miles just in case.

To check the oil pressure you really need to get a specialist pressure gauge. Ebay should have some available. Just plug it in where the oil pressure switch is and it should give you the pressure. I wouldn't think it was the pump as I am assuming it was working correctly before the 2 year sleep? These things go slowly over use.

Hyperdrinky

[Redrum]

^^What they said

Just a thought, how low is the idle? The oil light will sometimes flicker if its too low.

[MikeH]

I'd recommend an oil change - the acid in the old oil (from combustion gases) can cause damage to bearings over time.

Before you put the new oil in, it might help to drop the sump off for a look. Check that the pickup pipe isn't blocked with old oil sludge, and prime the pump - take the pump off, plug the end of the pickup pipe with vaseline, and fill it with oil, then refit.

If you rev the engine with no load, to 2000 rpm does the light go out? If you go to 3000 rpm, does the buzzer sound? It won't sound at tickover.

[Andy_S_T]

I checked the switch in the head and swapped it for one out of the Mk2 Golf that I have. Light went out and has not even looked like coming back on. Engine seems to be running like a dream!

I should have given a bit of history of the engine in the OP. Way back when I had been having alot of noisy tappets, and the oil pressure buzzer had gone off a couple of times. I changed the oil pump and it went away for around 6 months. But when it came back I suspected something else. I bought a cheap engine, that had stood so the block was knackered but the head was fine. I then put the head from this engine onto my original and gave it a thorough service, this seemed to cure the problem. This is when my circumstances changed a bit and I had to take the car off the road. It's now running better than it was when I parked her up. I am going to fit an oil pressure gauge though so I can keep a very close eye on it. What pressure should I be expecting (gauge is prob going to be in bar)?