Sorry, unnecessarily long story to follow.

Buying into the argument that a stock 5 PSI switch triggered too low I installed a 20 PSI switch on my wife's GT6.  One hot summer day we were driving home from a car show and the light came on IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.  The car has an oil pressure gauge and it indicated around 15-20 PSI.  

The engine was old and tired and needed a rebuild, we knew that.  However, there was still sufficient oil pressure to drive the car, even when hot, so we limped home.  Since then I have made sure my other old cars have had a gauge if they only had a pressure switch before.

The old rule of thumb is 10 PSI (minimum) at idle, and 10 PSI for each 1000 RPM above that up to the set point of the relief valve. It is quite unlikely that you will get a low oil pressure warning at speed.  If you do, even a 20 PSI switch may not be enough... and any switch rated higher than 20 PSI is likely to give you a lot of warnings at a hot idle.

In summary, a higher set point oil pressure switch may be a good thing but you need to read its warning with a bit of understanding and supplement the light with a gauge.  The gauge will always give you an indication of what is really going on.

 

Also, 2 thumbs up for your style Gary.  What about the low brake fluid pressure light in your dash's rocker switch?  If you push on the switch, does the bulb come on?

It will light on its own if fluid pressure (or is it level?_) goes down...

 

An after market oil/water gauge is the first item that should be purchased and installed on any mini that has idiot lights, hang them off the steering column if necessary, as long as they are visible

A low $ fix that will maybe save hundreds of dollars in a blown engine

Big AL

Garry, I like your style. haha.

Not sure what all you might be missing from your dash, but if you want a good working oil gauge, I have one for sale in the for sale parts section. $25 can't beat it honestly. Worked flawlesly for me and kept me from guessing with the dummy light.

From the can't miss what you never had files:  Discovered today that my oil pressure light has not worked since I bought Nigel in 2002.  I've wondered from time to time why there wasn't a light but dismissed it as a "cost saving measure" by Leyland, just like the lack of a bracket for the interior flasher unit.  (I have a sending unit on order.) The good news is that someone on the forum advised that by the time the light comes on, the engine is pretty much toast anyway. (Or would that be bad news?)  I have working high beam and alternator lights.  Is there anything else I might be missing?

If you can't make fun of yourself in public, who can you make fun of?

Garry