It has been very cold up here. When starting in this very cold weather the red "ENGINE" light comes on and stays on until engine warms up - quite a few minutes. This is not the "CHECK ENGINE" light. Does anyone know what the red engine light means. I read manual, and it is not listed for regular instrument panel but only for optional tach instrument panel - but it does not state what it means. Any suggestions? Light does go out and stays out after engine warms up. I got a 351, I think. F250. 1988.

 

You need to use a thin weight single grade oil. Then replace the oil pump with a larger one.

 

Consensus, no proof, is that the red engine light lights with oil pressure. Whether it lights with overheating or other faults is unclear. I have a '97 4.2L, I believe it and the modular engines don't have a bolt on oil pump but a pump cavity cast into the front engine cover. Not sure of this though.

Cold weather could make some oils so thick they wouldn't pump to the sending unit for a while. Especially if the check valve had let the oil drain back into the pan. That's the best I can do.

 

There is an oil pressure switch that feeds a seperate solid state module in the dash.
This feeds to a second module that controls the red lamp.
If you have an oil pressure indicator, what does it do?
I would be thinking about oil that is to heavy and testing oil pressure with a seperate gage to be sure what you have.
Also what oil filter are you using. Some filters allow oil drain back that takes time to refill the volme before pressure builds.
The time interval your stated would really concern me.
Listen for knocking sounds that goes away as the light goes out. If you hear that then it is oil pressure not coming up right away.
You lose the engine then you have a real problem.