5 Symptoms of Low Oil Pressure (And Common Causes)
An internal combustion engine is made up of many small moving parts. Some of these parts rub against each other, creating friction. All this activity creates excess heat inside the engine.
Because of this, engines need lubricants to ensure these components are cooled and running smoothly. Motor oil acts as the main lubricant and removes dirt from the surfaces of the components. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the right amount of oil is always flowing through the engine.
The oil pump generates the necessary pressure for the oil to flow to the engine components. The oil travels through channels to reach the bearings. If the oil pressure is sufficient, there will be no problems such as excessive friction on the rotating shaft.
The oil pressure required will vary depending on the condition of the engine. When your engine is idling, your oil pressure is low. When you accelerate your vehicle, your engine needs more oil pressure. It’s that simple.
Symptoms of Low Oil Pressure
If you have low oil pressure, the signs are very obvious. In fact, the symptoms you experience can completely impair your ability to drive your vehicle safely and effectively. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take your car to the nearest auto repair shop (or have it towed).
If you already know the cause, you don’t need to worry about a diagnostic test. Below are the 5 most common symptoms that occur when your car’s engine has low oil pressure.
1) Warning Light
The first symptom you’ll probably notice is that the oil pressure warning light on your dashboard will come on (steady on or flashing). There are sensors (such as oil pressure sensors) that can detect the available oil pressure. These sensors are connected to the engine control unit. When low pressure is detected, the computer unit will turn on a warning light.
2) Reduced Engine Performance
Loss of oil pressure leads to reduced engine power. Because engine components are not properly lubricated, the engine has to work harder to maintain the vehicle’s required power. This also leads to a significant decrease in fuel economy.
3) Burning Smell
Low oil pressure can cause oil to stick to hot components. Without enough pressure to keep the oil flowing, the oil sits on these components too long and burns. The result is a burning smell from burnt oil.
4) Abnormal Noises
When engine parts are not properly lubricated with oil, they rub against each other, creating all kinds of rattling and grinding noises. If you hear any of these abnormal noises coming from your engine, it’s a clear sign that you may have low oil pressure or low oil levels. But let’s be honest, by the time you hear these noises, it may already be too late and you may need to make costly repairs.
5) Engine Overheating
Lack of oil pressure means that the engine is not properly cooled by the oil. Therefore, the engine starts to heat up until it overheats. If you check your temperature gauge, you will see the needle moving towards the red area.
Common Causes of Low Oil Pressure
You can find yourself in a situation where you have low oil pressure at the wrong time. For example, if you step on the accelerator to increase speed and the oil pressure is not high enough, you will have a big problem.
There can be many reasons for this. You don’t always need to assume the worst case scenario because it might not be that bad. To diagnose the problem, here are 5 common causes of low engine oil pressure:
1) The wrong oil
Each car manufacturer recommends the best oil for its engine. Essentially, the viscosity of the oil must match the requirements of the engine. If the viscosity is too low, the oil pressure in the engine channels will be low.
Many people make this mistake when changing the oil (usually aftermarket). Don’t make this mistake, or you may run into problems along the way. Always use the oil recommended by the manufacturer.
2) Low oil level
It is important to check the oil level from time to time. If the oil level in the engine is too low, it becomes more difficult for the oil pump to maintain a constant oil pressure. This happens even more frequently in new vehicles.
3) Old oil
This means the oil becomes too thick and causes oil pressure problems. It will show up as very dark or even black on the dipstick.
Check your owner’s manual to see how many miles you should drive between oil changes.
4) Worn out oil pump
The oil pump does its magic by providing oil pressure. If the oil pump fails or wears out, it can no longer generate the proper pressure for the oil flow through the engine. This problem is rare, but it can happen.
5) Clogged oil filter
Oil must pass through a filter to remove impurities. At some point, the oil filter will become clogged with dirt. When this happens, the oil flow becomes severely restricted. This eventually leads to a significant drop in oil pressure.