Last Updated on July 19, 2022
Here we’re going to discuss the following engine sensor: The oil pressure sensor (or oil pressure switch). We’ll go over the functions of the sensor and the common signs to look for with a faulty oil pressure sensor.
How an Oil Pressure Sensor / Switch Works
The main job of an engine oil pressure sensor is to keep track of the oil pressure in the vehicle and then transmit this information straight to the combination meter or the instrument panel.
If the vehicle has an electronic control module (almost all do), then the oil pressure switch will send this information to the module where it can be calculated.
After it is calculated, the information gets sent to the combination meter or instrument panel so that the engine oil pressure warning light or the oil pressure gauge can be activated.
Symptoms of a Bad Oil Pressure Switch or Sensor
If there is a problem with the oil pressure sensor, then this will usually activate the engine oil pressure light. It could also cause an inaccurate reading to be given from the oil pressure gauge. Below are the three most typical signs of a faulty oil pressure switch or sensor:
#1 – Repeated Blinking from the Oil Pressure Light
Sometimes if the oil pressure sensor is not working properly, there will be blinking from the low oil light on the dashboard. This could cause a driver to panic because they’ll believe that their oil levels are low, which would end up damaging the engine if it were true.
In order to determine if this is a real warning or not, you should manually check your oil level to see if it is low. If it isn’t, then it is likely you have a faulty oil pressure sensor and you need to replace it right away.
Related: Common Symptoms of Low Engine Oil
#2 – Wrong Reading Shows on the Oil Pressure Gauge
If you are driving an older vehicle, then it likely has a mechanical gauge that calculates the oil pressure. Whenever the oil levels are normal but the gauge is showing zero, this means the oil pressure sensor needs to be replaced because it is faulty or there is some type of connection issue.
If you are driving a modern vehicle, then your oil pressure gauge is probably electronic and transmits an electronic signal to get the reading.
Whenever an oil pressure sensor is not working properly in a modern car, it will cause the gauge to have strange readings or it will sit on full or zero. Check the wiring to the sensor and replace as needed.
Don’t assume your engine oil level is low without physically checking the dipstick. Otherwise you may end up with too much oil in your engine which can mean a completely different set of issues in include oil pressure that’s too high.
See Also: P0523 Code
#3 – Oil Pressure Light Turns On
The best way to test if your sensor is bad is through the lights on the oil pressure gauge. If the low oil pressure warning light comes on when they engine’s oil levels are normal and your engine is running smoothly and quietly, then you likely have a bad oil pressure sensor. Anytime this sensor is defective, it will give you false readings.
If your oil levels are normal but you hear grinding, ticking, or other noises from your engine, you have an actual problem with oil pressure such as a faulty oil pump and the sensor is simply doing its job.
Eventually, these readings will go way beyond the normal specifications which will cause the warning light to turn on. At this point, you should replace your sensor in order to stay properly informed of your oil pressure level.
Thanks for the good job that you are doing. I have a Toyota Belta. And it problem is oil pump which was not pumping oil propely to the engine. I bought a new oil pump. The problem which am still having is the same problem, new oil pump doesnt pump oil to the engine again.
Kindly assist me what is the problem and can it be fix?
how you know the brand new pump not working?
are you see oil warning pressure light comes on, or engine knocking noise when engine run after replacing new pump?
Yes
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 Hemi. Oil pressure gauge is good when driving but when i stop the oil pressure gauge drops or when i put it in park. Changed oil, filter and oil pressure switch, still does it.
Oil pumps are typically driven off the crankshaft. When your engine speed drops, so does your oil pressure.
Real oil pressure gauges will show this drop in real time. As long as you’re maintaining a bit of pressure, there is no cause for concern. The amount of oil pressure you should see varies for each vehicle, but if it’s around 30 psi +/- 5 psi that should be in the range of normal.
What oil pressure are you seeing at idle?
Hi,
Thank you for the good job. I have a caldina GT manual. The oil light comes on when i engage gear 1,3 and 5
The problem came up when i did the service and put synthetic oil. I did replace the oil with the shell yellow can oil but the problem is still there. What could be the issue?
Oil levels are ok.
Kindly assist.
if oil level oke
possible causes can be:
oil pressure sensor / switch malfunction
oil pump weak
cylinder head oil flowing path clogged
Hey I have a problem about the oil with my Car When the car is on it’s fin but wen I step on the gas the oil comes out from the dipstick and the is like if the Pressure goes up to heads you know we’re is the breather for the heads Well from there the oil comes out threes is the leak I’m talking about
my Toyota big daddy shows oil light on the dashboard when it’s hot meanwhile I changed oil pump, oil filter with new oil. please help I don’t no what to do
2003 xterra. Oil light flashing off and on intermittently. This happened before and was a quart low between oil changes . Went to shop said and they checked and said not low probably just faulty light on gauges. I told them I didn’t want faulty gauge as would them not know if really problem. Today it started clAttering very loud after I drove a mile then got on freeway and it went off after s few minutes. Could this be the oil sending unit and shouldn’t the shop have known this? Maybe I should go to a different shop
I cleaned mine and the light no longer goes on … is this okay? (dodge grand caravan 2005)
Well you covered alot but, 03 avalanche I have replaced the unit 4 times , in a year do to having a high reading of 80+ psi pegged out. , I usely use a mix blend .but I have noticed when I add a conventional to keep it full some where around 1 qrt before oil change it does it , it Peg’s out to 80 , grand it IAM getting better at changing it it’s in the back where the distributor was. Not I still get pissy ,, any suggestions of what may be causing this.
Hi, I have a 2015 dodge caravan the check engine light turned on had a reading and it shows I need to replace the oil sensor switch, but my oil light has not come on. Is that common?
The low oil pressure light should be directly controlled by the oil pressure sensor so in theory it should come on if the sensor is bad. It’s possible it’s a false positive. If your oil level looks good and you don’t notice any oddities while driving, you could clear the code and see if it comes back. This may not apply to your vehicle, but the bulb behind the oil pressure light should still be good but if you bought the vehicle used, there’s a chance the previous owner removed the bulb to hide a problem.
WERE IS MY KIA RIO 2004 LS ENGINE; PLS WERE CAN I FINE THE OIL PUMP LOCATION IN THE ENGINE
See here: https://www.kiacheapparts.com/v-2004-kia-rio–base–1-6l-l4-gas/engine–oil-pump
(#33 in the diagram)
How do i clear the codes if the car keep showing oil pressure
You can usually clear codes with a scan tool. Be aware that clearing the codes will not fix the issue. Low oil pressure is a pretty serious concern for the health of your engine, so I would be certain that you actually have good oil pressure before clearing the code.
This is bad advice, you can’t tell if you have low oil pressure by checking your oil levels. Your oil levels could be perfectly fine but you could have low oil pressure and this is what the “oil pressure sensor” is telling you. You may have it confused with a “low oil sensor” which checks the amount of oil, not the pressure?
If you need to check engine oil pressure you will need to use an oil pressure gauge.
Checking your oil level is just the quickest/easiest way to start diagnosing low oil pressure. Low oil isn’t the only cause of low oil pressure but it should be the first thing to check.
Hi my small Toyota car engine light stays on for like 3 to 4 minutes before it goes off and the engine sound don’t use to be normal during this periods, please what is the solution
Could be a hundred different things. I’d recommend scanning the car with an OBD2 scanner for any stored trouble codes. A mechanic will be happy to do that for you for a fee.
Hi. I have a 2007 Pontiac grand prix gxp 5.3l v8 ls4 engine. My low oil pressure light came on briefly but I cleared it on the dash board myself. As soon as it came on, my lifters started tapping and I took the car home and parked it. Don’t know if it’s the oil pump or what but I checked the oil and the level was fine. I changed oil and filter with Castrol gtx full synthetic 10w30 oil and Mobil 1 filter, no luck. Still tapping. Any ideas?
I had a 1995 Dodge Dakota with a v-8 engine and I began having issues with skipping and almost like the belt was loose or fuel pump,transmission, rear end, plug wires,spark plugs. All of these came to mind so I started replacing them..no better..so, I remembered that on occasion that the oil gauge would fall but since I had been around chrystlers I just figured it was an electrical issue, like a short..so I put an oil sending sensor in and it completely started running right again..later on had same issue, well it took me a few tries at thinking wrong again, woundup being oil sensor..I now have a 2000 jeep wrangler w 2.5 liter..have had same issues. I tried everything. Guess what it was oil sensor..so 2 chrystler -jeep autos had same issues. So if someone says oil sending unit doesn’t effect the running of vehicle that BS. It has made it run so bad that it caused the death wobble several times. And that ain’t a fun place to be. Usually it was between 45 -55 mph in 4th gear. Feel it a little in 5 as long as its going above 60 mph. Hope this helps someone.
A badly running engine cannot cause death wobble. Idiots putting lifts on their jeeps do. Death wobble has to do with suspension,and steering not the engine.
I have a 03 ranger 2×4 whole front end replaced didn’t make a bit of difference even new transmission didn’t help vibrations I felt and the looseness of the ride soon as I started replacing sensors I noticed bigger changes in the smoothness of the ride slot so I believe what you are saying you might not have a death wobble but it is scary w.e. it is. A engine that isn’t running smoothly will cause wierd feelings in the ride making it feel like bumps in the brand new road that isn’t a bump there. Unbalanced steel wheels also cause so much vibrations I learned that recently when I replaced with alloy.i already probably need to start thinking about replacing ball joints that have less than 20k miles on them they are moog joints something is seriously shacking my whole vehicle. Remind you I have 340k miles but I’m starting to have oil gauge flickering the engine has considerably lower amount of miles God only knows how many less but either way I’m driving it till its dead then I’ll fix it again love my 03 ranger its almost a antique lol
Changed my oil but it doesn’t show on my dipstick
I changed my kia sportage 2012 oil and filter, approximately 3days later the red oil light comes on the dashboard. A mechanic checked the oil level, oil pump and oil sensors switch. Then he told me the oil level is ok and pump is working well . He told me the sensors switch is faulty so can drive the car and change the sensors the next day. But while drivingbthe car from the garage the car suddenly stop on the way.
When you try to restart the car, what happens? Does it sound OK? If the engine sounds terrible when you restart it, the sudden stop may be related. Otherwise, I’m not sure.
I have replaced the oil filter, the oil pump, and oil switch but still the check oil pressure light comes on the dashboard. What could be the problem?
You didn’t mention if you changed your oil. It may be in poor condition or the wrong viscosity. Too thick of an oil can cause the oil pressure light to come on.
I just bought Nissan Altima 2008, and I check my engine oil daily, but my dipstick is showing a reduction in oil with huge difference every day. Like I changed my oil last week and now the dipstick is showing oil below the low level. My engine exhaust is not showing any white smoke, my engine sound is also perfect and there is no low oil sensor idication on my dash. Please help guide me through the problem. The engine is 2.5li DOHC V4, I guess.
Please see: http://cartreatments.com/valve-seals-and-piston-rings-symptoms-replacement-cost/
Hi guys, I drive a manual Audi A3, and recently when travelling long distances/high speed the oil light comes on after a while and the oil is actually drained up, with no visible leaks at all. what could be the problem?
Most common cause would be some type of internal leak such as the valve seals or piston rings. The leaking oil would simply burn up while driving so you wouldn’t notice any oil on your driveway or garage floor.
I have a 07 Chevy Silverado Classic v8 4.8. Oil pressure gage fluctuates from min to max depending on engine rpm. Oil level is good and it seems to be the sensor. Also the truck was neglected for a time and the oil may have been fully broke down but had recently been changed oil and filter. Sensor? Sludge in oil pan clogging sensor?
Many oil pumps are positive displacement pumps driven by the crankshaft. This means the oil pressure will increase as engine speed (RPM) increases. I encourage you to do a bit of research on your truck to determine if the oil pressure readings you’re observing are typical. Know that some gauges aren’t completely accurate, so there may be some slight variation compared to others’ numbers.
My oil warning light does not co
me on during engine start. In my corolla 2001
Is the bulb burnt out? During a systems check (initial startup) that light should turn on.
I have a 2000 Expedition with a 5.4L 2v Triton V8.. My oil pressure gauge just started to act up. It will drop below the low line ad the light will come on. It stays on for no more than 2-3 sec then the pressure gauge jumps back to normal and the light goes off. I just had an issue after replacing all 4 O2 sensors where a fuse blew when sensors were installed. It caused the transmission to only work in 1st gear and threw a bunch of electical codes. The fuse fixed the issue but oil light and pressure drop started. I do have a small oil leak but I only use maybe a half qt every couple of months.
It sounds like it could be an electrical issue that is causing a bad oil pressure reading, but I would take it to the shop to have them check it out just in case. You wouldn’t want to blame the oil pressure sensor and have it instead be an issue with the oil pump.
Make sure your oil is topped up as well.
I had the heads machined, changed the gaskets, timing chains, oil pump, oil, oil filter, oil pressure sensor, and blew air threw the oil pick-up tube. Oil level is good, engine sounds good, temperature guage is normal.
Oil pressure light comes on after temperature reaches normal operating (20 minutes idle or 1 mile of driving). Engine does seem hot and maybe smells a little burning, but no smoke. I did try resetting a possible “change oil indication”.
Is there a relearn procedure or is some thing else going on in my 2008 Jeep Liberty?
As the engine warms up, oil thins out and the oil pressure will drop. First, confirm you’re using the correct viscosity oil for your engine. This information can be found in the owner’s manual.
Next, I would do an oil pressure test to make sure you don’t have a mechanical problem that’s giving you low pressure. Let it come up to operating temperature and make sure your oil pressure stays within spec.
I have a 2002GMC serra 4.8en gine low oil pressure changed oil pump sti ll the same starts off fine then pressure drops
Perform an oil pressure test so you know if there is a mechanical problem that is giving you low oil pressure or a false positive from an electrical issue. If it’s the former, address the issue immediately as low oil pressure can quickly destroy an engine.
Hi I have a 2004 bmw 320 I and it is hard to start and when I first start it it some times burns oil and the oil light comes on for 5 to 10 seconds and then turns off and doesn’t want to accelerate off the lot I went and got an oil change and a transmision flush and new transmision oil and that did nothing will this have any thing to do with the oil sensor ?? Thank you in advance
Sounds like there’s something else going on that’s causing low oil pressure. If the oil changes have been neglected, some of the oil passages may be clogged restricting oil flow and causing that light to come on. I would have the vehicle inspected at a shop so you have a better idea of what the problem is. Low oil pressure is a very quick way to destroy an engine.
I have an Astra 1.8. At idling my counter surge than it would drop below 900 rpm and the oil light would flicker. It only happens when oil has been warmed up and when idling.
It could be a vacuum leak, but I’m not sure why that would cause the oil light to turn on.
I would do an oil pressure test to make sure you don’t have low oil pressure, then perhaps a smoke test to check for vacuum leaks.
Hi I have VW JETTA 2014 model, it got a low oil pressure . i changed the oil pump , oil filter and oil switch but continued. I was then advice to rebuild the engine since the pistols had a play. even after doing that it still showing low oil pressure. please assist.
I’m not sure. What all was replaced when the engine was rebuilt? Is the vehicle making good compression numbers?
i been having as issue and im not sure of its the gauge,pump or sensor, one day i had zero pressure and after about 5 miles of driving it came up to 50, the next day as soon as i cranked it the pressure shot up to about 75 and stayed there even after driving for 30 minutes, now when i turn the ignition to on with motor off the gauge will read 75 and after i crank it and drive awhile it stays on 75, 80 is max on my gauge, this is on a 2005 yukon slt with 270k miles. Any ideas?
I have a Kia morning I realized there is a leakage but the oil switch light does not appear. Does it need replacement
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “oil switch light”. If you’re referring to the low oil pressure warning, that will usually only illuminate when your oil level is dangerously low. I’m not sure if it needs replacement or just a new seal, but you may want to have a mechanic to look at it and give you further advice.
WV CC 2011
160K
After I replaced the oil and the oil filter I got the low oil pressure waring but only at low RPM. so relapsed the oil filter again by original WV thinking I got a bad One but still didn’t fix the problem. Car runs ok otherwise
How long had it been since the oil was last changed?
A4 Audi 1.8tfsi model 2009
engine oil light comes on when im braking (irritating) , problem started two days ago when i changed engine oil . what might be the problem?
Check oil pressure, if you can test this in motion all the better. You want to make sure you aren’t actually getting low oil pressure. If that looks good, I would test the oil pressure sensor to make sure it is functioning correctly.
Does this happen only when you brake hard, or when you lightly tap the brakes too?
and switch off engine and check oil level
my 2003 galant the oil ligth no on @all check bulb is good the fius they good any one know what coud be my e mail bdomenico63@aol.com
So I was driving my car then all of a sudden it said low oil pressure then the engine stalled out there is no oil leak anywhere
Have you checked your engine oil level? Are you low on oil?
If you have plenty of oil, the next step is to do an oil pressure test to see if your oil pump is bad or if it’s just the sending unit.
I have a 2013 silverado. Pressure guage is pegged at 80 and check engine light are on. Hooked my computer up to it and it through of a code for my oil sender/sensor. With just a bad sensor, is oil still being pumped through my engine, I don’t want to cause any serious engine issues
If it’s just a bad sensor, yes there should still be oil moving through the engine normally. However you should do an oil pressure test with an external gauge to know for sure and replace the sensor as soon as possible.
Engine light is on, oil level was low but have since filled it, oil pressure gage is at 0, no engine noises.
The oil pressure light never came on
What year, make, and model? Not all oil pressure gauges are accurate. Some work more like on/off switches to show you have oil pressure.
looking for a pressure switch Range: -1 to 63 bar; Potential: 30 – 250 VAC; Current: <15 A; action: SP; CONNECTION: G1/2 IN; CONTACT ARRANGEMENT: 4NC: OEM P/N: PG0033227200
The oil pressure sensor has been changed and it still it jumps and loses power. The engine manifold light comes on. Could it be the leads with dirt in them or something else.
03 tahoe when driving oil pressure is at 40 at idle nothing and low pressure light comes on ,,no knocking or anything and runs good ,,,is it the awitch or other problem,,,it only goes up with acceleration
40 psi at idle doesn’t sound bad to me, but I’d get it checked out since the gauge and the warning light seem to disagree.
2019 Chevy Express 3500 with 21,000 miles. Engine light went on and oil gauge is at zero. when I turn the van off and back on, the oil pressure gauge zips up to the top and then back to zero and stays there. Dipstick shows plenty of oil. Van is running fine and making no strange noise. How far can I safely drive? I’m 35 miles from the nearest chevy dealership.
That depends on if you have low oil pressure, or if the problem is just with the gauge. If the gauge is bad, you should be able to drive to the dealership. If you have low oil pressure, I wouldn’t drive it anywhere.
You can’t really know for sure without an oil pressure test, but there are clues that could let you know if you have low oil pressure.
You did the most important thing which is to verify you still have enough oil. If you hear any clattering or new noises in the engine, I would stop driving the vehicle immediately. Other than that, it’s up to you if you want to take the risk to drive to the dealership or have the vehicle towed. Driving with no oil pressure will ruin the engine almost immediately, and you will probably have to replace the entire engine.
Please help me out,, I have enough oil while checked from the dipstick and I opened the oil engine and saw how oil is flushing inside the engine but I still see oil sign on my dash board and it always comes up when I drives a long distance, I do not experience any noise from the engine while the oil sign pops up, please advise me what better should I do in this situation?
Thanks
You should do an oil pressure test. That will help you find out if you actually have low oil pressure, or if you just have a faulty gauge that is causing the signal.
88 Lincoln Town Car on the dash there is a check oil button there is also a digital flashing oil pressure after driving it for about 30 minutes the check oil light does not come on but the digital flashing oil pressure flashes there is oil in it should I check the sensors and the pump
Yes. I personally would not want to drive the car anymore until I was sure I had oil pressure. This is especially true if you hear any funny noises coming from the engine, like a knocking or rattling sound.
You could do an oil pressure test to verify you have sufficient oil pressure. If oil pressure looks good, you may have a bad sensor. If oil pressure is not good, there may be a problem with the oil pump or a restriction in the oiling system.
What oil viscosity are you using in the vehicle?
I have a Kia Sportage, 2013 1.6 GDI petrol. The oil light came on which was amber. I stopped and checked the oil level on the stick and it was normal half to 3/4 full. It seemed to be running ok. Is this a oil pressure sensor fault or something else?
I don’t know. You could try doing an oil pressure test to make sure you still have good oil pressure. Could be a sensor issue, but a mechanic with a scan tool and a means to test oil pressure should be able to tell you more.
gage light gose on and oil gage drops all the way to the left now reading LOW
Have you checked the oil level? If your oil level is OK, I would think about doing an oil pressure test to make sure you’re actually getting sufficient oil pressure.
I drive a. Toyota Corolla 2005 and while driving the oil light gauge flick sometimes have changes the oil pump, change the oil filter even changed the oil pressure switch and the oil level is ok still yet I get the oil flicking sign on my dashboard
Hi, I have a citroen relay 2006, on ignition red oil light flashes engine almost losses power and does at times after a short drive oil light hoes off and engine is fine. I have done complete oil change and new oil filter no change though. Thanks
So, my oil light went on yesterday. I just had the oil changed in March. I checked the oil level and things are fine. Rather than assume that it is a false positive, I think I may have to replace the oil sensor. Is this something a non-mechanic can do? My dealer charges $145 an hour for labor. There is no noise and the light is solid, no blinking.
I would look up the oil sensor replacement process on YouTube for your specific vehicle and see if it’s something you would feel comfortable tackling yourself (or for your non-mechanic buddy). Every vehicle is a little different.
An alternative would be an independent shop. These tend to be much cheaper than the dealership, and you’re getting the experience of a mechanic to help you fix the issue.
I have a 2006 tahoe 5.3 V8 with over 209000 miles. Since i got the truck it had had regular oil changes. Have had issues with oil smelling of gas on and off for a year now. Oil pressure Guage didnt work when i bought it and like 2 months ago i replaced the sensor and immediately Guage started working just fine. HERE’S THE ISSUE》
Truck went from oil pressure at normal to all low oil pressure warnings coming on and a constant loud beeping. I’ve read alot and there are a few common causes that sound plausable. Any ideas to help save time and possibly my motor? Lol
I’ve got a 2012 Silverado that just had the oil pressure switch replaced due to a leak (according to the mechanic) and gauge was abounding hanging around 20 when driving well now after being replaced it’s hanging around 10. Could my gauge in the truck actually be faulty?
Is this 10 psi at idle or while driving? That seems low enough when driving that I would expect the oil pressure light to turn on.