Ive already PMed xviper about this, and he has suggested some things for me to check out. I wanted to make a thread though to see if anyone else has noticed this. It doesnt happen everytime, but seems to happen more so on warm starts. The SECOND the engine fires up, if I watch the oil light, it will make a QUICK blink for a SPLIT second. It doesnt stay on as long as it does when I have changed the oil/filter, but it just makes a quick blink. Has anyone else noticed this or not?

 

If i am right i think everyones blinks before it cuts off

 

can you do me a favor and next time you start it when its warm but has been sitting for maybe 10 or so min just watch it and see if it does that? Thanks much.

 

I don't know about blink, but I know that it's on every time I start my car. It goes off after about 1/2 second or so, depending on how long the car has been sitting.
That much is normal. If it stays on for longer than a second or two, that's not normal. And if it comes on after the car is running, that's definitely not normal.

 

What kind of filter? I stopped buying K&N because it seemed to me that the anti-drainback valves were inconsistent.

 

honda oem filter, the pcx one, changed every 3k with the oil. I now have seemed to find out exactly when it happens. It is on hot starts after the oil has drained. If I shut the car off after a hot start then immediately start it up again, it does not do this, but if the oil is drained into the pan and then I start it up, it does it. Xviper suggested that since it is hot over here and it only does it on hot starts it could be my oil thinning too much. Im running 10-30w by the way.

 

Thats normal especially for hot starts. When I changed oil and drained my oil right after driving, it was pouring down like water. So if you let it sit a little while hot and start it up, it takes a second or so to get the oil back to all its paths and pressurize the system since the Oil pump cannot pressurize as well with thin oil.

 

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I have a question that pertains to this thread and so I don't want to start another thread.

I was wondering if the oil light comes on as a "test" or if it signals that the engine's oil pressure is actually low for that split second. In other words, when it comes on (normally, under an engine with no defects), is it a "true" signal or is it set to come on no matter what as a test?

 

Its a true signal. the "test" part of the light is the fact that it is on before the engine is started.

 

To further explain- the light is a switch that does nothing but switch power through the lamp on the dash.

If you ever see it blink, something is wrong.

If it ever comes on while driving, You should shut down the engine immediately and call a tow truck. The light comes on at a very very low psi (around 2psi, IIRC) and if it comes on with the engine on, there is something very very wrong and you are probably doing serious damage to the motor.