One car problem that you must notice on time is low oil pressure.
Why? Well, when the oil pressure is low the engine doesn’t have proper lubrication and will eventually suffer major damage.
By major damage, I mean a partial or complete engine rebuild.
So, knowing this may prevent losing a lot of money, nerves, and time.
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SYMPTOMS OF LOW OIL PRESSURE
1. REDUCED ENGINE POWER
The first low oil pressure symptom you should pay attention to is reduced engine power.
Instead of the normal, sharp, and instant reaction to the gas pedal, the response will be sluggish and hesitant.
It is very similar to the symptoms of a bad throttle body for instance or a clogged fuel filter.
At first, the lower engine power is barely noticeable, and over time, it gets worse.
2. ENGINE OVERHEATING
The sluggish drive will be accompanied by constant engine overheating.
In the beginning phases of the problem, the overheating will be barely noticeable while later the temperature gauge values will be constantly near the red area, so to speak.
3. CLUNKING AND RATTLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE
You will also probably notice a vague rattling noise from the engine that later turns into clunking.
The rattling, in most cases, is caused by the engine valves not getting enough oil and lubrication.
The noise is even more present if the engine has a timing chain instead of a belt.
Later, the clunking and thumping noise appears. It’s especially present when the engine is idling since the engine oil pressure is lower then.
Also, these sounds may be even louder when the engine is cold and may totally disappear once the engine starts reaching working temperature.
4. THE SMELL OF BURNT OIL
A smell of burnt oil may accompany all of these symptoms.
When you sense this, you should check the engine for serious leaks as this is one of the most common reasons for low oil pressure (check for the things like a cracked sump, damaged gasket, loose screws, and else).
5. OIL WARNING LIGHT APPEARS
The last sure symptom is the oil warning light coming up on the dashboard.
At the beginning of the problem, the warning light may appear intermittently or when going through a sharp corner or bend (because the car tilts to one side).
One more tell-tale sign is that the oil warning light disappears moments later than it should especially when the engine is cold.
Later, the light may keep staying on all the time in which case the engine may have already suffered some serious damage.
CONCLUSION
If possible never let a low oil pressure problem get to the point where the warning light is lit up all the time.
By then, especially if it happens while driving, the engine may have already been damaged.
It is very important to notice the first low oil pressure symptoms on time, react, inspect, and possibly solve the problem.
I can’t emphasize this enough, low oil pressure is among the top three problems where it is crucial to react on time.
Of course, be sure to always check the oil level and make sure the engine has enough oil.
Without enough oil, there can’t be enough pressure.
Written by: Sibin Spasojevic
Former car technician, life-long car and DIY enthusiast, author for Despairrepair.com
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