After I got my cammed swapped out, I got a low oil light within a day or so of driving the car, oil was 1/2 way in the range on the dipstick... and it would come on every other start of the car. I added oil until it went to the top of the range and no change. Since they dropped the pan to do the job I figured the sensor must of went out. The shop gave me a new one and said next time the lift is free he'll put it in... fair enough.

Today I get my PCM back from being reprogrammed and drove the car quite a bit, started and shut it off many times... for the life of me the light would not trip... doing some reading of the forum, it appears the C5 low oil light sensor is a tempature probe... if the engine oil is cooler then the coolent level(or within a range) it will trip the light... meaning the sensor is exposed and isn't being covered in oil I would guess.

Does anyone know how the C4 sensor works? Only think I can figure now is when the cam was done, I had a 160 t-stat put in it... but the cooling fans were still set to stock. Now with the reprogrammed PCM, my fans come on at 181-187... the coolant temp before the PCM reprogram would vary greatly depending on the type of driving I was doing... now it's steady 176-185... and the oil is around 205. If it works on the same principle as the C5 system.. maybe the sensor isn't bad and it was just the difference is coolant/oil temps?

Course knowing my luck i'll go start the car tomorrow and the light will be on.. but thought I'd ask anyway :)

 

For my 92, the sensor is a normally-closed grounding switch. When the oil level drops, the switch opens and the warning lamp comes on. According to the service manual these conditins have to be met:
- Oil temp during the previous ignitin cycle must have been 195*F
- Oil temp must have dropped at least 105*F since engine was last running
- Oil Level Sensor must be open, indicating low oil when the Ignition Switch is turned "ON".

I had a similar experience just after I bought my 92. The light would go on and off with the oil level on the dipstick at the full mark. I pulled the connecting wire and cleaned the contacts. That helped, but the lamp would still come on. After a few oil changes the light now stays off but it does come on when the ignition is turned before starting.

 

Lets see now................. The oil gets low and the light comes on........ is that correct. Did I win a prize???

I know Jim............. I'm a smart azz