Hey Folk, My dashboard oil light turns on in my 78 DL wagon with EA71 when ROMs drop to 800 and the engine hot. If I step on the gas, the light turns off until the ROMs get low again.

 

Does anyone why this happens and if I need a new oil pump or what ?

You need to get an aftermarket oil pressure gauge on the car to see what is happening. The oil pressure switches do go bad. Check the oil and make sure its not thinned out by gasoline or water.

 

You dont say how many miles are on the car (grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) But what does the most to regulate oil pressure is the main bearings. If the oil pump is orignal i would replace it, as thats the easiest and cheapest thing to do first, aside from switching to a thicker oil. After you put on a gauge, confirm the low pressure is real, replace the pump, and keep your fingers crossed. Yuo can inspect the pump for wear, but generally when i decide that things are at that point, i just replace the pump.

 

nipper