What Causes Low Oil Pressure in BMW?
2 Answers
Low oil pressure in BMW is generally caused by the following reasons: 1. Oil storage: Insufficient engine oil storage, resulting in little or no oil in the lubrication system. 2. Oil quality: Dirty or viscous oil prevents the oil pump from effectively sucking in and pumping out oil. 3. Oil concentration: Thin oil can leak from engine gaps. 4. Oil pipe leakage: Oil pipe leakage, oil pump damage, or excessive wear of its components can reduce the amount of oil sucked in and pumped out. 5. Crankshaft and bearing clearance: Excessive clearance between the crankshaft and bearings leads to oil leakage. 6. Valve spring weakness: The spring of the pressure relief valve or pressure limiting valve is too soft, stuck, or the steel ball is damaged, causing the valve's function to disappear or weaken. 7. Machine failure: Oil sensor, pressure gauge, or circuit failure.
As a long-time BMW owner, I have some deep feelings about this. That time when my BMW suddenly lit up the low oil pressure warning light, it really gave me a scare. I immediately pulled over to check. The oil level was still adequate, but later at the repair shop, the mechanic said it might be due to aging and wear of the oil pump, or possibly a blockage in the oil passages. Sometimes it's just a sensor malfunction causing false alarms, but it could also be that the oil is too thin or the filter is too dirty, affecting the pressure. An engine running low on oil is dangerous—it could lead to bearing seizure and total engine failure. Now, I make it a habit to change the oil regularly and check the pressure every 5,000 kilometers to prevent problems before they occur. When driving, avoid stomping on the accelerator too hard or waiting until the warning light comes on to take action. For precision-engineered cars like BMWs, low oil pressure requires professional attention—don’t try to fix it yourself. My advice is to first check the dipstick when the engine is cold to see if the oil level is sufficient. If it’s still low, head straight to a reputable shop for a thorough inspection.
