Oil light on dashboard - what is it for?

I've got a late Mk1 Golf 1.8 Gti with 2.0 16v 9a conversion.
The oil light on the dashboard flashes on and off when I turn the ignition on and goes out when I turn the engine on.
What is this warning light for?  Is it oil level only, or oil pressure only or some combination of the two?

Reason I ask is that the oil temperature on the MFA doesn't work and I'm trying to decide whether I need to bother with the expense of buying and fitting oil pressure and oil temperature VDO gauges.

Thanks
Snooky

to my knowledge its pressure but will also show low oil as low oil will result in low pressure. it should come on before you start the car then go out once started same as the battery light.

defo for oil pressure

should go out pretty dam quick once started

ppl make the mistake saying its an oil level light, if this light comes on when driving it normaly = you oil pump is nackered and is this not good and normaly = in an engine rebuild

thanks for the info guys.
I think I'll just get the oil temperature on the MFA fixed rather than buy/fit two new gauges.

The oil pressure light and water temp light should come on when you turn the ignition on befroe starting the engine so you can check they work properly before driving off. They should turn off when you start the engine.

And for reference there is a buzzer that goes off for high and low oil pressures (at least on later cars). But generally if you're driving along and the buzzer of doom goes off you may have already suffered some engine damage.

red light comes on at start up till pressure reaches 0.3 bar when running will come on and buzzer sound(if fitted) if opil pressure drops below1.8 bar above 2000rpm

cheers rob s

ps are you a snook?

yep i hav a 92 cab and it has a abuzzer for low oil and or low water.

my temp light constantly flashes. has done since ive bought it. had it luked at wen done other work and services and no one can find fault and only thing been described is faulty connection on the actual bulb. i dont suffer from any engine probs and my water level stays constant. i have to top my oil up every so often but only just the standard amount for a car my age id say. any ideas?

the flashing is very random it doenst stick to a sequence

 :dontknow:

HAVE YOU ACTUALLY CHECKED THE OIL PUMP AND OIL PRESSURE THOUGH?
that would concern me, as red lights arent supposed to be on after ignition unless theres a problem

sounds like mine. i've changed sensors cleaned contacts etc but sitll flashes. gave up in the end it's fun when the person in the back gets worried about a flashing light. hehe

It could be that the connectors on the back of the PCB wants resoldering, as they easily detach after old age and vibration.

novocaine said

sounds like mine. i've changed sensors cleaned contacts etc but sitll flashes. gave up in the end it's fun when the person in the back gets worried about a flashing light. hehe

ha ha yeh same here….i get the 'u need some petrol'

and i go no actually its probably a new engine ha ha

topoftherange, HOW DO I CHECK OIL PUMP AND PRESSURE?

golf1, what does PCB stand for? i take it that the speedometer console?
how easy are they to detach coz my last car was a mare and didnt go back togtehr very well. mind u it squeeks like mad so cud prob make it better if i pad it out on refit

you can get the pump/oil pressure/compression checked by any decent garage, if it is week it will only result in one thing! Boom to your engine bad oil flow or starved oil at high revs = dead engine

It could well be fine but if the light isnt doing its job then how will you know?

the PCB is the blue printed circuit board (more like plastic film) on the back of the dash clock pod, these can have burnt tracks and dodgy voltage regulators etc, it might even be an earth or short on another track on the board, if your not confident with stuff like that dont attempt it though!

im not confident with anything like that really. wud like to stop this squeek tho any ideas? take out console and pad it with rubber or felt?

ill go take it to a garage get it checked but havnt had any engine probs and its been like it for well over a year. what symptom wud i have got?

been into a specialist to have the fuel system changed and they said it was nothing to worry about and their mk1 did it also…