Did a bit of fettling today getting the van ready for Easter. After adjusting the rear drums, I took the van round the block, as I was returning, the oil pressure light comes on, back on the drive, smoke coming from drivers side heat exchanger, oil leaking. Got the van up on the ramps,removed the bottom cover ( the one covering the thermostat) and blasted with water so I could see where leaks were, started up engine, oil pouring from rocker gasket. After taking the rocker cover off I smeared the rocker cover recess in hylomar, refined the gasket and got the cover back on, it finally sealed after massaging the cover into place and pulling downwards, looks ok now and no leaks but question is would a quite large leak cause the oil light to come on, oil level on the dipstick was fine by the way.
Yes, I can see that the pressure light would come on as the "pressure" was not building to keep the sending unit in "check". Funny how the cover leaks just kind of "happen" !!! Had it happen to a Karrman Ghia on a road trip. The guy behind us had to pull up and tell us, cause he thought I was on fire. LOL
The rocker covers will not keep the oil pressure up If the oil light came on and is a standard set up, you had no oil pressure. If the oil was plentiful you have another problem !!! The other possibility is the oil pressure sender is failing and the leaks are just coincidence ??
I like that answer mick, I also reckon that the leaking rocker gasket would have no effect on the oil pressure. It's strange it all just happened, I think the rocker gasket was weeping as I put the van away for the winter. Today was the first test drive since coming out of hibernation. I am tempted to change the sender anyway, I have one in the garage, it's just strange it should happen now, the oil pressure has never come on before while driving. Once the cover was sealed, I took it round the block and no oil light on. Suppose see how it goes.
