What are the causes of low engine oil pressure?
2 Answers
Here are the reasons for low engine oil pressure: 1. Insufficient oil in the oil pan; the oil viscosity is too low. 2. The spring tension of the pressure relief valve is insufficient or improperly adjusted. 3. Severe oil leakage in the lubrication system pipeline; the oil fine filter is damaged and leaking. 4. The oil pump is excessively worn or faulty. 5. The oil pressure gauge or sensor is malfunctioning. 6. Excessive clearance in mating parts such as bearings, connecting rod bearings, and camshaft bushings. Here are the situations of low engine oil pressure: 1. Dirty or viscous oil, causing the oil pump to fail to suck in or pump out oil, resulting in low or no oil pressure. 2. The oil becomes too thin and leaks from the friction pair gaps in the engine, causing low oil pressure. 3. Oil pipe leakage, oil pump damage, or excessive wear of its components, such as excessive clearance between the crankshaft and bearing shells, malfunction of the pressure relief valve or relief valve due to a weak spring or damaged steel ball, all reduce the amount of oil sucked in and pumped out, leading to low or no oil pressure. 4. Malfunction of the oil pressure sensor, pressure gauge, or circuit results in low oil pressure.
I was also startled when the oil light on my car's dashboard came on the other day. The most common issue is insufficient oil—remember to check the dipstick level on flat ground after turning off the engine for ten minutes. If it's below the minimum mark, top it up with the same type of oil immediately. If the oil level is normal, it's likely an issue with the oil pump—either wear in the pump body causing pressure loss or sludge clogging the oil pickup screen can lead to insufficient pressure. Another possibility is a clogged radiator restricting oil flow or excessive clearance in the crankshaft bearings causing oil to leak too quickly. Last time, my friend’s car had the oil filter installed backward, leading to pressure buildup—it took a while to figure that out. In such cases, it’s best to visit a repair shop to read the fault codes, as DIY fixes can be too risky.
