Fill with oil and keep refilling about every 25 - 50 miles. Keep this up for about 200 miles. As long as I maintain this constantly refilled state the oil sensor light doesn't come on even at idle.
Get to mechanic friend's house, replace cam seals. Oil leak problem solved. Spray the engine down with degreaser similar to Purple Stuff. Thoroughly hose down engine from various angles to get grease and degreaser off.
Now, when the engine gets to operating temp and running for a while, I'm getting a low oil pressure light under 1000 rpm. Engine otherwise runs like a close. Smooth, strong.
Wondering why the oil pressure light would suddenly start coming on at idle when at road temp when it didn't before the cam seal replacement and engine hose-down.
Mechanic friend says hosing down the engine could have gotten water into the pressure sender and change the resistance value of the internals. I'm incredulous about this since it looks to me like a sealed unit. He swears water can get in around where the metal lower portion is crimped around the plastic top portion....?
I'm working on locating a mechanical oil pressure gauge to fit this vehicle to check the pressure.
Opinions on the possible cause of sudden oil pressure light given the above scenario?
Thanks.