7 MOST COMMON CAUSES OF LOW OIL PRESSURE -

In this article, you’ll see some of the most common causes of low oil pressure.

This parameter of your engine is perhaps the most important one. Without proper oil pressure, the engine will inevitably suffer major damage due to poor lubrication.

So, knowing the causes of low oil pressure may help conclude what the problem is or even prevent it from happening.

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CAUSES OF LOW OIL PRESSURE IN AN ENGINE

1. WORN OUT ENGINE OIL

One of the most simple yet very common causes of low oil pressure is worn-out oil or oil that hasn’t been changed on time.

Worn-out oil loses its viscosity and main characteristics over time which severely impacts gaining and maintaining proper oil pressure.

If you want to see how to check the quality of your engine oil and see if it needs to be changed, click here to read about it.

Also, if you want to see how to make an oil change on a car click here.

2. CLOGGED OIL FILTER

The next simple reason is a clogged oil filter. If it’s clogged it causes a jam in the oil circulation and thus low oil pressure.

A good practice is to change the oil filter every time you change the oil and avoid this problem altogether.

If the engine oil and filter haven’t been changed on time, then this should be checked.

3. OIL QUALITY AND CHARACTERISTICS

If the engine oil is of low quality or even worse has the wrong characteristics it can also be a cause of low oil pressure.

Low-quality oil loses viscosity fast and you soon get the effect of worn-out oil.

With the wrong characteristics, it’s even worse as it not only affects oil pressure but can even damage the engine.

4. OIL LEAKS

Oil leaks will seriously affect oil pressure only if it’s a big leak.

In this case, you should notice this reason easily as there will probably be oil stains or puddles under the car.

If you notice this as a possible cause of low oil pressure, look out for things like cracked oil sumps, loose screws or bolts, or other bigger problems.

It should be easy to recognize.

5. FAULTY OIL SENSOR

Another fairly common problem especially with today’s modern electronic systems is a faulty oil sensor.

These sensors suffer mostly from material fatigue over time and when they get faulty, they show false readings.

In this case, the engine and systems are OK although the warning light is always or intermittently on.

6. BAD OIL PUMP

The oil pump is in charge of pushing oil through the whole engine.

Oil pumps, in most cars, last very long, sometimes as long as the engine especially if the oil is changed on time.

This isn’t the case with every engine, some have oil pump problems to begin with but usually, on average, the oil pump is a rare problem.

When this problem is present, there is weak oil circulation and weak oil pressure within the engine.

7. ENGINE PROBLEMS

The last and most serious cause of low oil pressure is engine problems.

Some of the most common problems are worn-out piston rings, worn-out crankshaft bearings, damaged cylinder walls and else.

In most cases, this is caused by poor maintenance (mainly disregarding the oil change interval), constant engine overheating, and else.

Another common reason is high mileage and material fatigue. The engine eventually gives in due to wear.

If this is the cause of low oil pressure, the only solution is a partial or complete engine rebuild.

CONCLUSION

One more cause of low oil pressure worth checking, although rare, is a missing oil cap. I’ve seen more than once that people forget to return it when topping off oil.

In the end: a key preventive measure for low oil pressure problems is changing the oil on time and doing proper maintenance. With this, you may avoid this problem altogether.

But if it, God forbid happens, you must react immediately and inspect the problem otherwise the engine may suffer heavy damage.