911bow

HI THERE,I'M DUE TO VIEW A 964 C2 TRIP 1991 AT THE WEEKEND WITH THE INTENTION OF BUYING.I'VE BEEN TOLD IT SUFFERS FROM A FLICKERING OIL LIGHT AT IDLE.IT HAD A SUBSTANTIAL £6K REBUILD WITH INVOICE TO PROVE AT JZM 5000 MILES AGO.COULD IT BE SERIOUS ? OR IS IT LIKELY TO BE A SENDER UNIT ? MANY THANKS PAUL

Indycam

Its normal .
The light coming on at idle is no big deal .

STOP WITH THE CAPS PLEASE

groovzilla

which oil light is flickering???

911bow

oil pressure light

groovzilla

previous owner explained that my oil pressure light started flickering and warning light would come on about 2 months ago...only on hot days...i am 99.9% sure it is the oil pressure switch as it has never been replaced and they are prone to failure.

i noticed when we have had a warm day it will come on when i come to a stop.

my car runs and drives great and compression was excellent when i purchased the car last month.

DaveK

Mine also comes on occasionally when I'm stopped if it's a warm day - it's done it for the last couple of years. Although it seems to do it now even if it's a bit less warm - but the car runs fine, so I don't worry about it.

Geoffrey

On a street car, I can't think of one where the oil pressure warning light flickers. I don't believe this is normal. It could be a faulty sensor, or it could be representative of a larger issue that will become costly to address.

warmfuzzies

911 and Porche world if memory serves had an article about the oil squirters staying open, IIRC this can reduce the oil pressure...
May want to look at what oil you have in there an do a comparison with an olde Dino oil. Mine runs on Semi, something like Esso Ultron. Pretty vanila stuff, but I don't have any oil presure issues even when red hot.

Kevin

Strega(UK)

Have owned my C4 for 6/7 years now and have always had the light come when the engine is very warm. It bothered me enough on a particularly hot summer to have something done about it so booked it into my local independant who hooked a seperate oil pressure gauge and told me it was well in limits.
So I basically just live with it!!

Indycam

I think it is mentioned in the owners manual .

DaveK

I remember that article - and even mentioned it when discussing my oil light with JZM a couple of years ago - but they pretty much discounted it.

My car is being serviced in a few weeks - I'll get the pressure checked then.

Bearclaw

HUH ?!!!! Sorry, I'm a little deaf in my internet ear right now.
j/k

I certainly wouldn't shrug this off. You didn't mention intending to have a PPI, but I would have a test done as mentioned above, just to rule out a problem. And put it on your list to get it fixed soon, as you won't know in case you develop an actual oil pressure problem.

dfinnegan

I found this in the manual on pg 49:

Oil pressure gague

The oil pressure should be at least 3.5 bar at
an engine speed of 5,000 rpm. When the oil
is hot, the red oil pressure warning light may
light briefly at idle without endangering the
engine.

However, if the oil pressure drops suddenly
while driving or if the red warning light comes
on, the engine must be turned off immediately.
If there is enough oil in the engine oil
tank, have the malfunction corrected at the
nearest authorized Porsche dealer.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Geoffrey is basically correct in his assessment, but I'd add that using thinner oils in warm-to-hot temperatures can illuminate the oil pressure warning lamp at idle.

If one is using a 15w-40, 15w-50, or 20w-50 oil, this should not happen unless there is a problem with the sender, wiring, or an actual oil pressure problem that requires immediate attention.

911bow

Thanks all,can anyone help with my latest request,see new post in my user name.