What are the causes of excessively high engine oil pressure?
2 Answers
Engine oil pressure is excessively high due to: 1. Excessive oil viscosity; 2. Improper adjustment of the pressure relief valve; 3. Malfunction of the oil pressure gauge or sensor; 4. Clogged oil fine filter; 5. Incorrect oil grade selection; 6. Excessive tightness in the bearing clearance of pressure-lubricated components. The solutions for excessively high engine oil pressure are: 1. Adjust the bearing clearance of pressure-lubricated components; 2. Clean the oil pipes and passages, and maintain the filter; 3. Select the appropriate oil grade; 4. Replace with oil of suitable viscosity; 5. Inspect and adjust the pressure relief valve on the oil pump test bench to ensure the oil pressure meets specified requirements.
I've been driving for many years, and high engine oil pressure is mainly caused by oil that's too thick, especially in cold seasons. If the oil viscosity isn't chosen correctly or the temperature is low, it becomes thicker and flows more slowly, naturally increasing the pressure. Another reason could be the oil pump's pressure relief valve getting stuck, unable to release excess pressure, or a dirty filter clogging the oil passages, making the oil pump work harder for nothing. For prevention, I change the oil and filter regularly and choose oil with the right viscosity, avoiding cheap products. Excessive oil levels are also worth noting, as too much oil puts extra strain on the system. Ignoring this issue can damage oil seals and gaskets, leading to leaks or worse, even engine failure, which is expensive to repair. A friend of mine once spent thousands more on parts replacement because of this. In short, developing the habit of checking the oil dipstick and warming up the car is quite important.
