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Old 08-09-2013, 01:07 PM   #1
SlimJim8804
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 241943
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NNJ
Vehicle:
2065 Magic Carpet
Swirl Rally Bleu

Default Impreza oil light flicker?

Looking for input here, I'll try to give the most detailed explanation possible, and let users decide if this is a legitimate concern or a bout of automotive hypochondria.

Rundown:
2010MY Impreza 2.5i 5MT
42~ thou miles
Oil used: castrol syntec 5-30 / OEM Subaru filter. Last oil change I performed was 1200 miles ago. Oil level is perfect. No leaks, smells or consumption observed between OC's.

This is a close family members car. Perfectly maintained from new by my own hands. Oil changed early and often, OEM filters 90% of the time. Oil level always perfect. Always quality synth oils meeting recommended grade. I drive the car/look it over etc at least once weekly to assure everything is in order. I'm under the car monthly regardless for peace of mind.

Here's what has occurred:
When I started the car cold the other day, I noticed the oil light flickered after the engine started for ~1 second (at most).
-no engine noises accompany this
-at a hot/warm start light goes off immediately.
-once again, perfect oil level. No leaks. Filter is perfectly intact, no signs of damage.

I've consistently operated this car over the 3+ year course of ownership, and this is the first instance I have seen this. I likely would have noticed it had it been occurring at a time in the past. I have never observed this activity in any of my past subarus, including my 12 wrx with higher mileage in all my years of automotive ownership.
EXCEPT after i change the oil.

I'll also add, after i saw it i took it for a long drive to insure the oil was at least up to temp and idled for a while, staring at the cluster. No flickering at hot idle like other users have reported with pickup-tube failures.

-there is no conspicuous damage, contamination or obvious causes for the sensor to be grounding (or partially grounding out). I have personally seen dim/flickering oil lights on a old WRX after powerwashing the bay.
-DOES not occur on a hot warm start. Goes out immediately.
-If you cold start the car, it will briefly flicker. If you let it run shortly, turn it off and start it again, it will act "normal" with no flickering. (This is why I feel like it could be a faulty anti drain back valve in the filter itself.)
-charging system is in top shape. Battery is recently new. Cranks same speed as ever.
-idle is the same, no change in noise or drivability (that I can notice, I do feel like I have a pretty trained ear for automotive noises and I'm intimately familiar with this car)

Now, i'm curious if i'm overreacting or one of these hypothetical scenarios has taken place:

-beginning of a cracked oil pickup tube? (Does it happen on these)
-bad ADBV on oil filter?
-other oil delivery related issue

Game plan is either to grab and oil psi gauge after work, or i'll have a reputable handy friend help me out and do a psi check.

I'll post a video shortly of the instance I spoke of. Ive witnessed it a few times, was not an isolated instance.

Please offer advice suggestions, also if any 08-11 impreza 2.5i owners would like to video a cold start as grounds for comparison, id really appreciate it.
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Last edited by SlimJim8804; 08-13-2013 at 10:46 AM.
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