oil light flickers.

[JLKINSER1970]

Hey all,
Just finished rebuilding the top end of my engine on my Buick LeSabre, 1998 3.8 engine.
Had the heads rebuilt, replaced the timing chain, and put on a new oil pan gasket. Car runs great but after it heats up, the oil light will some times flicker, some times stay on. Now this only happens when the car is ideling. When I give it the gas, the oil light goes out and stays out.
When I had the timing cover off, I didn't replace the oil pump. I had the guy at the machine shop look at it while he had the heads. He said the oil pump was fine. SO all I did was repack the oil pump to prime it on it's first start since the cover had been removed.
I thought maybe the sensor was acting up. But I was told that if it was the sensor, I wouldn't have the oil light come on: it just wouldn't work. The oil is full. I do have a small leak at the front of the oil pan where the timing cover and oil pan meet.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

[tempfixit]

I would hook up a mechanical gauge and watch to see what the oil pressure does.

[jpawl]

Originally Posted by JLKINSER1970

Hey all,
Just finished rebuilding the top end of my engine on my Buick LeSabre, 1998 3.8 engine.
Had the heads rebuilt, replaced the timing chain, and put on a new oil pan gasket. Car runs great but after it heats up, the oil light will some times flicker, some times stay on. Now this only happens when the car is ideling. When I give it the gas, the oil light goes out and stays out.
When I had the timing cover off, I didn't replace the oil pump. I had the guy at the machine shop look at it while he had the heads. He said the oil pump was fine. SO all I did was repack the oil pump to prime it on it's first start since the cover had been removed.
I thought maybe the sensor was acting up. But I was told that if it was the sensor, I wouldn't have the oil light come on: it just wouldn't work. The oil is full. I do have a small leak at the front of the oil pan where the timing cover and oil pan meet.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

Who told you that?
My bet is it's a oil sending unit going buggy.
Like the guy above me said,check it out manualy if you like.If your not hearing a noise under load,i think it's just a coincidence that the sending unit took a dive after the repair.

[xs03mich]

I have had a oil sending unit go bad in a gm car.....the light came on and stayed on with that one.

[tonypuka]

I have a similar issue on my 95 LeSabre. Once engine has warmed up, I start to slow down for a red light, or other reason, the oil light starts to flicker.
As soon as I accelerate,the light goes out and stays out.
Oil level is good. Oil looks and smells fine.

Thanks
Tony P.

[XterraRacer]

Don't know too much about that but I think the oil is actually fine, it's the indicator.

[auto trainy]

If you hook up that mechanical gauge you will then stop guessing.

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by auto trainy

If you hook up that mechanical gauge you will then stop guessing.

I agree completely. If you see less than 15 at hot idle in DRIVE, stop worrying about the sender and start looking at the pump and bearings - Or both. Been there already, and this had 10 PSI at hot idle on 10W30 Mobil 1:

[Scrapper]

i would put a new sending unit in it first. but i agree with them on hooking up a guage.