1996 Honda Prelude Owner's Manual - Page 192

Low Oil Pressure NOTICE Running the engine with low oil pressure can cause serious mechanical damage almost immediately. Turn off the engine as soon as you can safely get the car stopped. 4. Start the engine and watch the oil pressure light. If the light does not go out within ten seconds, turn off the engine. There is a mechanical problem that needs to be repaired before you can continue driving. (See Towing on page 204.) 1. Safely pull off the road and shut off the engine. LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR This indicator should light when the ignition is ON (II), and go out after the engine starts. It should never come on when the engine is running. If it starts flashing, it indicates that the oil pressure dropped very low for a moment, then recovered. If the indicator stays on with the engine running, it shows that the engine has lost oil pressure and serious engine damage is possible. In either case, you should take immediate action. 2. Let the car sit for a minute. Open the hood and check the oil level (see page 134). Although oil level and oil pressure are not directly connected, an engine that is very low on oil can lose pressure during cornering and other driving maneuvers. 3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the dipstick (see page 134). Taking Care of the Unexpected