What Are the Reasons for Low Engine Oil Pressure?
2 Answers
Engine oil pressure may be low due to insufficient oil quantity, low oil viscosity, or poor oil pump performance. Engine oil serves functions such as lubrication and wear reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing and leak prevention, rust and corrosion protection, as well as shock absorption. If the engine oil pressure is low, it is necessary to promptly identify and resolve the issue. Detailed explanations: 1. Use of inferior oil: Sludge blockage caused by engine oil. After using inferior oil, sludge is prone to form inside the engine, which can block the oil passages. The solution is to switch to high-quality oil, preferably following the vehicle's oiling instructions. 2. Oil passage blockage: An engine with blocked oil passages will have reduced oil flow, which can easily lead to insufficient engine oil pressure. In this case, the blocked oil passages need to be cleaned. 3. Low oil viscosity: If the oil viscosity is too low, the oil pump cannot press the oil into the oil passages. The natural solution is to change the oil.
Recently, my car has been experiencing low oil pressure issues, which is quite a headache. First, it could be due to insufficient oil—leaks or burning oil can cause the oil level to drop, so it's recommended to regularly check and top up using the dipstick. Second, oil pump failures are quite common; if the pump is faulty, the pressure naturally won't rise, especially in cars after major overhauls. Internal wear, such as excessive main bearing clearance, can also affect pressure, particularly in older, high-mileage vehicles. A clogged oil filter is another issue, so it's important to change the oil and filter on schedule. False alarms from sensors are also frequent, caused by wiring issues or faulty gauges. Low oil pressure can range from minor to severe—from just triggering a warning light to causing complete engine failure. That's why I stopped the car immediately after noticing the issue and took it to a reliable repair shop to prevent further damage.
