Subject: oil pressure light flashing
Question: I just had an alternater belt put on my car and the same night my oil pressure light started fading in and out. The car has 135000 miles but a remanufactured engine was installed at 98000 miles. The car has had oil changes regularly and I use high milage oil with treatment each change. I used gunk50 oil flushing fluid(something like that) and changed the filter and oil after 1500 miles ago. I drove from MI to S.Fl and the car ran beautifully, that was 2 weeks ago and now this light started flashing.My car 93Mits Eclipse 4cyl 2.0 has the perfect oil pressure for 3000 rpms (b/w the last two lines and at idle b/w the first two lines). I would take it in except I am broke for two weeks until my first check. I drove it today with no problems but I know this is not too smart. Is it a possible wire problem or could I have just put too much oil in it (its alittle over the second notch closest to me when holding the DS handle? I will change the oil tommorrow but am just alittle curious if it will even help b/c the oil is pretty clean. Also my car used to tap or click lightly at idle but this hasn't happened since I started using high milage oil and oil treatment. Thought it was just a clogged lifter or valve.
Thanks for any help you can give me, Scott
Answer: Scott,
First, I would encourage you not to use oil flushes on a car as old as yours. It seems like a good idea, but sometimes those engines flushes clean oil seals too well, and cause leaks. Some of the gunk that's in your engine may actually be helping to prevent oil leaks.

The oil light on your dash typically comes on when you're low on oil; not so much when your oil pressure is low. It's not a very smart sensor. If your oil level drops below 2 quarts (and I believe your engine holds about
4-4.5 quarts), then your light would come on. The clacking noise is very common with Eclipses. That sound is caused by your lifters not allowing oil to pass through the oil passages. That can cause your valves to clack and chatter. Your oil treaments and high mileage oil can help that noise; which you indicated it did. For the most part, that will have no affect on your engine, and a little clacking is OK.

I would suggest having your oil sensor and oil pressure sending unit checked out. It just may be a loose wire or burned out sensor. If you're living in a state like Michigan, I would recommend using 5W-30 (full synthetic if you can afford it) all year round. If you're living in a place like southern Florida, then 10W-30 or 10W-40 should be your oil. A full synthetic will help keep your engine running for a long time.
Good luck!