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258 oil light comes on briefly, rarely |
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Pdok
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Apr/03/2011 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 1021 |
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Posted: Nov/29/2022 at 7:58pm |
OK, 1976 Grem. stock bottom end on 258, 55K original miles, normal service history, no heavy usage, no noticeable oil leaks/burning. Engine is clean, regular oil changes, I've been inside the oil pan to change the gasket, no debris or buildup. Oil pickup was secure as of about 5K miles ago anyway.
Very occasionally, the oil light will flick on for 2-3 sec, then turn off. It happened about 2 years ago in a descending, tight right-hand turn coming off a cloverleaf exit at about 15mph. Light was on for 3 sec, and went off after the turn stopped basically. Today, it went on on a slight downslope, while I was braking to a stop around 10mph, same thing, light went out right as I stopped. I was very gently applying the brakes, hardly enough to feel since I had coasted most of the way to a stop already. I understand that the oil is sloshing forward and away from the pickup tube, as a possible cause of this. However, I don't want to overlook something else, if there's any thoughts out there on what else could be a concern here. Also, I'm wondering if there's any sensible mods (like baffles) that "should" be done. Sensible = not buying a $500 Milodon pan.
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76 Grem X 258/904,4.0 head/MPFI, Comp X250H cam, Hughes springs, Clifford header, serpentine swap.
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Pdok
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Apr/03/2011 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 1021 |
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Oh, and I do not have a pressure gauge installed. That may change, after this issue.
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76 Grem X 258/904,4.0 head/MPFI, Comp X250H cam, Hughes springs, Clifford header, serpentine swap.
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Midnight Rambler
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/17/2011 Location: SoCT Status: Offline Points: 1670 |
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I can't speak to the 258s but have seen a lot of oil pressure sensors go bad on the 4.0s. When my Jeep started to show little/no pressure on the gauge that's the first thing I checked and exactly what it was. It was intermittent/periodic, and seemed to occur decelerating off the gas or while at idle.
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'66 American 440 Convertible 290/M-40/AMC 20 3.15/PS/PB '04 Jeep Wrangler X Rocky Mountain Edition 4.0 5sp |
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ramblinrev
Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Online Points: 11468 |
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Change the $10 sensor. If it still comes on, put a real gauge in it so you know what the pressure is on that nearly 50 year old engine! |
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74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977)
62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981) |
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Pdok
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Apr/03/2011 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 1021 |
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It's just a baby...
OK, I'll swap the sensor and see. I can't always replicate the issue, even when I'm doing the same maneuver on the same curve near my house. The gauge is a must, I agree. I've been putting off gauges until I had an idea how to put them somewhere that didn't look too hillbilly. Band clamp around the steering column isn't my thing. Ah well. |
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76 Grem X 258/904,4.0 head/MPFI, Comp X250H cam, Hughes springs, Clifford header, serpentine swap.
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ramblinrev
Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Online Points: 11468 |
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I agree...just a baby at 55k! My '74 258 with 180K still has excellent oil pressure! (And I have a gauge that was on the car when I bought it at 42k. But I also have the correct Rally Pak oil/amp gauges I hope to install one day) |
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74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977)
62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981) |
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Pdok
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Apr/03/2011 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 1021 |
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Since I tend to think super low oil pressure would have caused issues more often, I'll do the sender swap, and the gauge too just for diagnostics.
What's it, like 5, 7 psi where the light comes on? Something like that, or maybe that was my Buick. Oh, and I have seen the inside of the pump, virtually new looking 5K+ miles ago. So OK, maybe sender is it.
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76 Grem X 258/904,4.0 head/MPFI, Comp X250H cam, Hughes springs, Clifford header, serpentine swap.
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Pdok
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Apr/03/2011 Location: Alabama Status: Offline Points: 1021 |
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OT, but I like the rally pak idea, not sure how my sporty bench front seat would do with no console, but maybe a similar pod or something.
I even thought about A-pillar, but the plastic up there is fragile.
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76 Grem X 258/904,4.0 head/MPFI, Comp X250H cam, Hughes springs, Clifford header, serpentine swap.
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Midnight Rambler
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/17/2011 Location: SoCT Status: Offline Points: 1670 |
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I do understand that frantic feeling when the light comes on or the gauge drops.
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'66 American 440 Convertible 290/M-40/AMC 20 3.15/PS/PB '04 Jeep Wrangler X Rocky Mountain Edition 4.0 5sp |
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wittsend
AMC Nut Joined: Apr/15/2020 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 413 |
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The light is triggered by the sender grounding to the engine. There is a possibility that when you are in turns, descending a hill etc. that the wire is moving slightly and grounding. Start the engine and carefully wiggle (remember there are fans and belts turning) the wiring around and see if the light comes on.
Not familiar with you oil level tube/stick. Some have a rubber seal and if that is worn, missing the stick goes deeper into the pan and the oil level reads higher when in reality it is low. A number of years ago when doing an engine swap I had similar symptoms. KNOWING I had put 5 Qt's of oil in I trusted my recollection more than the dip stick. I had to bent the tube for clearance and figured any inaccuracy was how the stick meandered through the tube - now. I eventually drained the oil and around 3 Qt's came out??? THEN, I remembered I only put 3Qt's in to test for leaks the oil pan I needed to indent for clearance and not the full 5 Qt's I was sure I used..., - but didn't.
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'63 American Hardtop
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