Honda Repair: OIL IDIOT LIGHT, pan gasket, civic wagon

Question
WHEN THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON, WHAT IS IT MEASURING?
I JUST PUT IN A NEW OIL GASKET ON THE PAN, AND AFTER A 9 TO 10 MILE RIDE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SOLID.  IT STILL SHOWS FULL ON THE DIPSTICK AND NO LEAKS OR DRIPS ARE APPARENT.  DOES THIS MEAN THE PUMP IS GOING? IT IS A 90 CIVIC WAGON.

THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP.

TOM P

Answer
Tom:
Yes, the light comes on because the oil pressure is too low. The oil pump may be bad, you could have a bad oil filter or possibly when you changed the pan gasket something happened to the oil pick-up line.
If the oil pump is now working the oil filter will not have any (or very little) oil in it. I would suspect the oil filter only if you changed it when you changed the pan gasket.
Good luck.
Bill