Oil Pressure Light Flickers

[Jason Spears]

Today my oil pressure light started to flicker when the engine was at low rpm(~700). Does sound like my oil pump is worn out. I change the oil and filter regularly so I don't think my filter is clogged. Could it be the sending unit is faulty.

I'm going to get a mechanical oil pressure gage tonight and see what the pressure is. My gm service manual says that the oil pressure should be 10 psi at 500 rpm and 30-55 psi at 2000 rpm. When I get the gage hooked up I'll check this out. There seems to be two oil pressure sending units, one on the back of the intake manifold and one above the oil filter. What does each one of these do? Which pressure tap will the mechanical gage fit into?

I also ordered a new sending unit to be safe. It was pretty inexpensive.

Does this sound like the right way to go about solving this problem? I've never had an oil pressure light come on before so I'm kind of winging it. Thanks for the help.

Jason

[apstguy]

It can be either problems. If it only does it at low RPM, then most likely it would be the oil pump. The only oil pressure sender is at the back of the engine (it is on a Tee fitting if you have gauges, idiot lights may just be one)it is next to the distributor (you have to take the cap off to get to it).