Engine Oil Warning Light - how low?

[leadfoot6]

I've a question about the oil warning light on the dash; at what level does it come on?

I was filling the oil the other day and I accidently drove the car with low oil before I realised it, i.e.: the oil was slightly less than half way between the high and low marks on the stick.

But there was no warning light on the dash. How low does the level have to get before the light would come on? Is the warning light a reliable indicator of too low oil pressure?

I could not find a direct answer from the Mitsubishi Magna workshop manual.

Referencing a Pajero forum, and from a thread entitled "Oil Pressure", the consensus is that the oil pressure warning activates at 5psi:

And yeah oil light is for low pressure, 5psi I think.

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum...3&postcount=10




, which is somewhat less than the specified idle pressure of 11.6 psi:

Haynes manual 1997-2005
V6 petrol engines 3, 3.5 and 3.8 litres oil pressure 80kPa@idle

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum...01&postcount=4

If your oil pressure light activates for any length of time, and the oil pressure switch is indeed operating correctly, it is safe to assume that damage has been done.