Today I noticed the oil light coming on in my 86 XJ6 S3 when it was idling. The light flickered and would go out as soon as I touched the gas. I had the oil changed about a month or so ago and never had problems. I added a quart of oil as a precaution.
Tonight, on my way home, the oil light came on again at low RPMs, but as I went further the light remained on. The oil pressure looked fine (between 40-60 PSI) and when I checked the level, it was full...maybe a wee bit over the hash mark from the added oil.
So, here I sit wondering if it is just a bad oil sending unit, or something more sinister. The engine sounded fine and didn't seem like it was oil starved. What bothers me most is the progressive RPMs that would be required for the light to go out. At idle, especially when in gear, the pressure drops and I could possibly understand the oil lamp flickering (like it started to act), but the lamp now remains on 100%, regardless of RPMs. I'm not sure where the oil sending unit is, but the pressure gauge is reading normally. Are there two circuits or systems involved...one for pressure and one for oil pressure light?
Any and all help is appreciated. I'm guessing it is probably a bad connection (imagine that!) but Oil lights and driving do not typically mix well

Jim M

 

Oil light sender is AWOL, common.

Just to be sure, unplug the sender (the smaller of the 2) and observe the light being OUT. If that is so, the sender is your culprit. If that light remains ON, then ya got a wiring issue with that particular wire shorting to earth.

Oil light senders are not special, and about $12.