well recently when i start the car it fires up fine and idles perfect but the last light to go off on my guage is the oil pressure light sometime it blinks once on start up and quickly turns off. Should i be concerned about this? the car runs fine and the oil level is perfect. This has only been occurring during the last 4 start ups after the car has been sitting for a while. Could it be the oil pump or a bad senor. It is a 99 SEL auto with 114k on it, nothing but synthetic has been put in the car like that would help. Please help guys because i have to drive this car on a 4 hour road trip and i don't want to get stranded.

 

As long as it shuts off within a couple seconds of starting your engine you should be fine.

 

oil pressure sending unit, probably on its way out, 15.00 part and not sure what labor is to put one on.

 

Eh, I wouldn't go out rushing to replace it. Could also be a bad drainback valve on his oil filter, causing the car to take 1/2 second longer to build up oil pressure. I wouldn't call a slight flicker at first startup a problem.

 

other than the light flickering at startup what would be the other indicators? would there be a chance of the car dying while taking this road trip? After the car has been running for 10mins and let say i shut off the engine the light doesn't even flicker or stay on for a few secs it shuts off the same time the other lights do?? i'm jsut concerned with being stranded.

 

should i go a head and change the oil and see if it fixes the problem? it is due for one in 800 miles or next month?

 

On your oil filter there is a check valve that is supposed to close when you shut off your car. Once this valve closes, it prevents oil from running back away from the pump, so it takes less time to build oil pressure back up when you start the car again. It sounds like your drain back valve has stuck open. Not a big deal really. If this is something that just started, then just go ahead and change your oil and replace the filter. If the light is not on for more than a second, and like you said, once you have started the car and shut it off, the light does not stay on at all on restart, then I would not worry about it. This is just my personal opinion.

 

actually i just checked my maintenance log and i just changed the oil on june 26 @ 113 and the car is only @114k plus i used the most expesive purolator filter, thats why the oil is still gold, lol