An idea,but don't be surprised if it is on all the time when engine is running.
oo never looked into it ,back to the old drawing board
thank you Jack
If you have ever forgot to put the transmission inspection door on and started the engine you instantly understand what a wonderful oil pump the flywheel and magnets are. I think you could pump 90 percent of the oil out in a minute or so.
Don't ask me how I know.
Lorenzo, How about a push button switch you can hit after engine is turned off to see if oil is at proper level. To be fail safe it should only light the bulb if oil is adequate.
Just thinken.
Gary
Great idea Garry, but I think the opposite if light does not light oil level is ok, for the cork will be in the up position as oil level in pan goes up and floats it,the brass tip attached to the cork wont make contact to ground via the brass rod in center ,.maybe if the connection shots the coils to ground and car wont start with low oil level? look at the pic.
The Dallas T club had a demo engine with a Plexiglass door on the hogshead that they ran at swap meets. It is just unreal how much oil is splashed around the engine when running.
I read the title and looked at the pictures thinking it would be really a lot of work to mount one of those in each cowl lamp.
The fluid dynamics inside the pan is sometimes counter intuitive - as Jack says, the oil in a sight glass located between the usual oil check petcocks will be sucked inside as soon as the engine is started. Gary's idea will work, thus you can check the oil level in a more convenient way than under the car.
Ralph Ricks and a few others has a better oil light for a running "T" - it's a part from an old accessory, the Ever Ready Automatic Oiler, a replacement trans cover plate with a hinged lid.
The hinged lid has an electric contact and a counter weight that holds it up and the contact is closed by default. Thus the oil light is lit as soon as the ignition is on, then when the engine starts the lid is filled with oil, weighs down and the light goes off. If the oil level goes down so not enough oil is splashed by the flywheel, then the oil light goes on and it's time to shut down immediately and fill more oil / check for leaks.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/268066.html?1329780127
Many T engines has been destroyed by a sudden undetected oil loss - a repro trans cover with the Ever Ready hinged lid would be a good accessory, and it seems like some repros has been made? - only trouble is it's hard to combine with another accessory, the usual trans cover oil screen.
Does anybody know who showed the repro unit at the Orange County safety inspection event in february 2012?
Lorenzo, I like the idea. I think Gary has a good point, though. The light should come on if the oil is adequate. If the light is only meant to come on when the oil is low, and a wire somehow breaks connection, you could be low on oil and never know it. If the light comes on when the oil is good, that means everything is working.
So Jared , you mean that when the ignition is on the light should be off ,and when engine running it will go on ..I think you have something there
I must reevaluate ..Or turn the cork grounding pin to ground on top instead of bottom.. Oil high
light on, engine running light off
Just a thought: What happens when that cork absorbs oil and gets too heavy to float?
Another thought: What happens ifn the cork swells up and won't move?
Ken, Cork cant absorbs oil it is sealed with laquer its veen under oil in a can for 2 1/2 months so far so good
Cork cant swell because the laquer also there is a brass sleeve inside
When the ign is switched on the light turns ON. Just like your modern car. When enough oil activates the switch Then the light goes OFF. The light will come on if not enough oil is present to warn the driver.
Lorenzo, The oil light circuit can be independent of the ignition. Before you start the car you check oil level by pushing the switch. If light comes on your OK to start the car. You can also check oil level after turning off the ignition.
Gary
Here's a link to the Ever Ready complete oiler setup I posted as a Accessory Of The Day A while ago.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/268729.html