The oil pressure gauge warning light will be on the car’s instruments panel and will either be written as the word OIL or a little symbol representing an oil can will be used, usually illuminated in red (but only when there’s a problem). The pressure gauge lamp is often displayed for a few seconds when the ignition is first turned on but should then go out once the engine has been in life for a few moments and the pressure has had a chance to rise due to the oil pump filling the area containing the pressure sensor with oil. If the symbol stays illuminated or if it comes on while driving it is vital to stop the car immediately and pull over. Often when the warning lamp becomes illuminated an audible warning will sound in the car brining this serious condition to your attention. (As an aside, if the lamp doesn’t come on when the ignition is turned it indicates there is a problem with the oil pressure sensing system. This could be relatively minor, such as the bulb used to illuminate the symbol dying, or a more complex fault relating to the electrical system or the pressure sensor in the oil pan malfunctioning).
Ignoring this warning lamp and continuing to drive the vehicle can have critical (and expensive) consequences for the engine. The oil pressure sensor is indicating the oil pressure is low, dangerously so, and the oil level in the pan needs to be checked straight away. Running a car with low oil pressure will cause extreme damage to the engine, therefore, it is CRITICAL not to run the car when this symbol is on.
If the oil pressure problem is not fixed you will start hearing noises coming from the engine as air starts to take the place in the engine of the missing oil. Moving parts will begin to seize up and may fuse together leading to irreparable damage. So we’ve established how important it is to stop drive at the first sign of problems with the engine’s oil, as indicated by the pressure sensor.
Causes of problems with the oil pressure gauge
There are many reasons why the gauge may report low pressure, including:
- Low oil pressure (of course!)
- Faulty oil pressure sensor
- a problem with the oil pump (leading to low flow rates and therefore pressure)
We’ll look at each of these in more detail in the next post.
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