Oil pressure light came on

[Omarl7]

I have a 30 minute commute every day and the oil light was turning on ONLY at idle for a couple days before today. Today about 25 minutes into the drive the light went on, and didn't come of. Oil level is good, and it has new oil filter. What could it be? Anything helps. Could it be the oil pump? Sensor?

 

[XpL0d3r]

It could be either. Test the oil pump:

 

[Omarl7]

Thanks for the welcome! & I Will do this as soon as I get the chance, you think it's safe to drive it 30 miles back home in like 6 hours? Thank you!!!!

 

[dancam]

I wouldnt, but its up to you. If its a failing sensor or wire then its safe, if the pressure is actually that low then it isnt. Light doesnt come on until under about 5 psi. As you can see by the above picture it should be just below 50 while cruising. If you want to drive it crawl underneath and inspect the wiring first to make sure its not loose/frayed/disconnected. But from your symptoms i doubt it is.


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[XpL0d3r]

Thanks for the welcome! & I Will do this as soon as I get the chance, you think it's safe to drive it 30 miles back home in like 6 hours? Thank you!!!!

Honestly, I wouldn't. If the engine starts making an odd noise, and the temp gauge starts to go up, definitely do not drive the car. Noise / high temps are a sign of the internal parts that require lubrication are drying out and causing friction.

EDIT: Like stated above, if it's just the sensor, you could drive it. But without knowing which it is, you'd be taking a risk driving it for 30 miles.

 

[Omarl7]

Ill take a look before I'm off back home, at this point I have to drive it because it's my only way back home. The oil level is fine and no heating up, maybe some noise but nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Omarl7]

I wouldnt, but its up to you. If its a failing sensor or wire then its safe, if the pressure is actually that low then it isnt. Light doesnt come on until under about 5 psi. As you can see by the above picture it should be just below 50 while cruising. If you want to drive it crawl underneath and inspect the wiring first to make sure its not loose/frayed/disconnected. But from your symptoms i doubt it is.


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I'll take a look at it before going back home tonight.
Thanks!

 

[Omarl7]

drove back home 30 miles tonight, after a cold start at 16 minutes after the oil light came on on the highway, I was doing 70mph at 3,000rpms, it was flickering on and of at an inconsistent rate(off for 2 seconds one for 1 second and In between for another 2 seconds) for about 2-3 minutes, at this point it would pop up even when I let the gas go. So I revved up to 4,000rpms/5,000rpms and then the oil light went off and I went back to 3,000rpms, After 10 minutes it came back on and I tried revving it back to 4/5,000rpms but the light would come off anymore. Got home and car was making a slight strange noise. I hope this helps to conclude anything. I'm taking it to the shop tomorrow to test oil pressure levels and go from there.

 

[dancam]

Yes. Cold start my 7th gen civic and my brothers 4th gen both go to 90 psi at idle. Once hot after 20 minutes of driving they are down to 40 psi cruising and 10 idle. Higher you rev te higher the pressure gets and needs to get. Generally 10psi/1000rpm is the minimum. You had under 5 at 3000rpm and by revving it up to 5000 you maybe got 10. So doing that just made things wear far, far worse. (If the sensor that lights your dash light is correct)
Get it checked out, but fyi the lights on your dash are color coded like streetlights. Green is good, yellow is a caution but you can keep driving, red means stop immediately and fix the problem. Thats supposed to be simple but its lost on some people...
Anyway, let us know what you find out, and check your oil, your probably burning some by now. Any chance 5 or 0w20 got put in your car at the last oil change?


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[dancam]

Since your getting it looked at im just gonna guess the relief valve in your oil pump got stuck open. Wait and see if im right. but if it is that then if my memory serves me correct it would have been like a $10 fix with parts from a wrecker and some gasket maker maybe. Im pretty sure you can access it without takin much off the car. But you would have ran it dry on oil....


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