It had been a little over 6 months since I drove my car. I was going to take it for an oil change. The last oil change was 1 year ago and I only drove 2000 miles on it. As I was driving, the low oil pressure light came on. At the time I just thought that light meant it was due for an oil change. I kept on driving and it turned off after 5 min. Did I do any damage to it?
This might be serious, but maybe not.
Here's the thing: Did you then check the oil level on the dipstick when the engine was cold? What was the oil level? That's vital information that is missing.
At the very least, it means that insufficient oil was not flowing across the engine, triggering the sensor. As the engine warmed up, minimal lubrication was achieved, and the light went off.
Possibly, the oil pump is not working at maximal efficiency, as well. An enhanced diagnostic scan might reveal whether the oil pump is sufficiently functional.
Regardless, after a year, you should change the oil. Today, irrespective of miles.
Did the engine make any rattling or knocking noises? That would be a sure sign that the engine was getting inadequate lubrication and bearings were grinding metal-to-metal. Depending on how low the oil pressure really was you might be OK if there have not been any bad sounds. Is the oil light still coming on after making sure there is sufficient oil in the engine? (Definitely do not run it for more than a few seconds if the oil light is on!)
Aside from bad noises, one way to check for damage would be to hook a mechanical oil pressure gauge up to the engine and see if pressure is within manufacturer's specifications. Typically bearing damage will make for lower oil pressure, but not necessarily low enough to trigger a warning light.
