Possessed Check Oil light

[sirhk100]

Okay, does anyone know how this light works? I'm assuming there's a sensor in the pan that tells the light to come on or is there some sort of float in the pan? Whatever, here's my problem. I've owned my '92 Explorer for about 4 months now and here's what should happen. I turn the key to ignition and the light is not on, then I crank it to start. As it cranks the check oil light comes on (I'm assuming a test to let you know it's working), and once running the light turns off. Here's what happens to mine. I'd guess that about every 10-15 starts I'll turn the key to ignition and the Check Oil light turns on, this for me guarantees that once I start the motor it'll stay on and not turn off. Sure thing, crank the motor and it stays lit, motor starts and it's still on. When this happens I normally can cycle the key about 10 times or until I notice that the check oil light is not coming on in the ignition position, then start it up and the light stays off. Occasionally cycling the key doesn't work though so I just drive it for about 10 minutes then sitting at a light I'll turn off the motor and restart it and the light will be off.
Yes, I've checked the oil and it's always been fine. The oil pressure seems fine too. Also, I've had this happen facing up hill, down hill, and on flat ground so I don't think it has anything with how the vehicle's sitting and draining the oil from the sensor. Has anyone had this happen? Is this just my sensor going bad? Anyway to test it? Where is the sensor? Is it the one on the drivers side of the oil pan near the front?

Thanks!!

 

[cfo20]

oil light

My old explorer did the same thing. The light would go on, I would check the fluid/pressure and everything was fine. My method was just to add some old each time it happened and that would make the light go off. I didn't know if it was leaking oil, or buring it or what, but it would only come on after 300+ miles of straight highway driving. I don't know what the problem was. A buddy of mine suggested that the oil would thin out more on the highway and find a leak out, but I never could find it if there was a leak.

 

[TDG]

The oil level switch is the one on the side of the pan near or in front of the starter. It sounds like it's occasionally sticking or the wire is wearing through and shorting to the engine/frame. FYI: The thing toward the front of the pan (if we are thinking about the same thing) is the oil pressure switch.