Oil Pressure Lamp

I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
check?


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.659 / Virus Database: 423 - Release Date: 4/15/2004

You could try replacing the oil pressure sender switch to see if it
closes at the idle RPM oil pressure of 5~10 psi. While the switch is
being changed, a mechanical gauge could be used to see what the idle rpm
oil pressure actually is.

Ameritech wrote:
>
> I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> check?
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.659 / Virus Database: 423 - Release Date: 4/15/2004

You could try replacing the oil pressure sender switch to see if it
closes at the idle RPM oil pressure of 5~10 psi. While the switch is
being changed, a mechanical gauge could be used to see what the idle rpm
oil pressure actually is.

Ameritech wrote:
>
> I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> check?
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.659 / Virus Database: 423 - Release Date: 4/15/2004

Ameritech wrote:

> I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> check?

Is the oil fresh and clean? If not, change the oil and filter. If the
oil filter is dirty and clogged, the bypass valve will be opening,
resulting in unfiltered oil running through the engine, at a lower than
normal oil pressure.

If it's had a recent oil change with new filter, I'd check the ACTUAL
oil pressure by unscrewing the sensor for the oil pressure lamp, and
installing a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Most times it's a bad sensor
that causes false oil pressure lamp indications. One time on an old
engine I found sludge packed into the sensor when I took it off.

-GP

Ameritech wrote:

> I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> check?

Is the oil fresh and clean? If not, change the oil and filter. If the
oil filter is dirty and clogged, the bypass valve will be opening,
resulting in unfiltered oil running through the engine, at a lower than
normal oil pressure.

If it's had a recent oil change with new filter, I'd check the ACTUAL
oil pressure by unscrewing the sensor for the oil pressure lamp, and
installing a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Most times it's a bad sensor
that causes false oil pressure lamp indications. One time on an old
engine I found sludge packed into the sensor when I took it off.

-GP

"Sharon K.Cooke" > wrote in message >...
> You could try replacing the oil pressure sender switch to see if it
> closes at the idle RPM oil pressure of 5~10 psi. While the switch is
> being changed, a mechanical gauge could be used to see what the idle rpm
> oil pressure actually is.
>
> Ameritech wrote:
> >
> > I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> > 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> > on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> > next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> > check?
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.659 / Virus Database: 423 - Release Date: 4/15/2004

you could try to replace oil first. I saw the same condition with my
dodge intrepid this spring.

"Sharon K.Cooke" > wrote in message >...
> You could try replacing the oil pressure sender switch to see if it
> closes at the idle RPM oil pressure of 5~10 psi. While the switch is
> being changed, a mechanical gauge could be used to see what the idle rpm
> oil pressure actually is.
>
> Ameritech wrote:
> >
> > I just bought a '98 Stratus for my 16 year old daughter. It has less than
> > 48000 miles on it. This week, the oil pressure lamp has started flickering
> > on while idle or the RPMs are below 1000. I checked the oil level (I know
> > next to nothing about engines) and it was OK. Any ideas on what I should
> > check?
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.659 / Virus Database: 423 - Release Date: 4/15/2004

you could try to replace oil first. I saw the same condition with my
dodge intrepid this spring.

you could try to replace oil first. i saw the same condition with my dodge intrepid.

you could try to replace oil first. i saw the same condition with my dodge intrepid.

Thanks all! I'll give the oil change a try. I believe it's about that time
anyways.

"hadley862" > wrote in message
m...
> you could try to replace oil first. i saw the same condition with my dodge
intrepid.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.665 / Virus Database: 428 - Release Date: 4/21/2004