Hi there every one, I have an x reg fabia 1.4 mpi, i only use it 5 days a week to go to work which is 1.8 miles there and then back again, and about twice a month i drive to carlisle which is 121 miles. on my next to the last visit to carlisle, i checked all my fluid levels etc and they were fine, like i do every couple of weeks, but i put about 1 glug of oil in just for good measure before setting off. i drive to carlisle which takes just over 2 hours then stay there for about 17 hours then drive home again, litterally about 1 mile from my front door the oil pressure light came on for 3 seconds then went off again. while driving to work it never comes on. then on my last visit to carlisle exactly the same thing happened again about 1 mile from the front door. but today while on a short journey to stockport and back again there was a big accident on the motorway and while stop/starting the oil pressure light kept comin on and off again for about 10 minutes, after managing to exit the motorway i pulled up in a bus stop to check everything under the bonnet and everything appeared fine. when i turned the engine on again the light did not come on again even though i was stuck in another traffic jam, i did make it home safely though. I have a VAG machine and it is reporting nothing to do with oil ! has any one please got any suggestions ? Thank you.

this link may be of some use to you

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/247556-oil-pressure-warning-light/

When did you last change the oil?

That 1.8 mile commute is a very punishing scenario for an engine, as it'll spend most of its time operating well below optimum temperature. The Carlisle trips will help by getting the engine up to temperature for a sustained period, but I'd still be tempted to change the oil much more often usual.

Could well be a partially obstructed oil pick-up strainer, which is a sump-off job to clean out.

Hi there Wino, I have not changed the oil yet, it appeared to have new oil in when i bought it 11 months ago and have only done 3100 miles since then, so did not feel the need to change it ! how often should i be changing the oil in your opinion ? Which job would you do first, the oil pressure switch or the sump ?

Well you should certainly eyeball the pressure switch, 'cos if it appears to be leaking oil at the electrical connection, it's almost certainly bust, but in that case I'd expect it to cause a warning light all the time.

From the description of when yours is coming on, I'd say the switch is potentially telling the truth, the oil pressure really is sometimes dropping below minimum. In each case (end of a long journey, or idling in traffic) the oil would be at its hottest, and therefore thinnest, with corresponding reduction in pressure. In order of easiness of fix - after checking the switch - I'd change the oil (and filter), if no improvement have the sump off to eyeball the pick-up strainer.

How many miles has the car done?

I'd consider changing the oil every six months, at least while you're still on that super-short commute.

Hi there Wino, thank you for your further reply, the car has just clocked 83,000 yesterday.