Oil Pressure Diagnosis and Testing
- After running the vehicle for a few minutes on a level surface, turn the engine off and allow for adequate drain-down time (2-3 minutes) and measure for a low oil level.
Add the recommended grade engine oil and fill the crankcase until the oil level measures full on the oil level indicator.
- Run the engine and verify low or no oil pressure on the vehicle gauge or light.
Listen for a noisy valve train or a knocking noise.
- Inspect for the following:
- Oil contamination
- Oil diluted by moisture or unburned fuel mixtures
- Improper oil viscosity for the expected temperature
- Incorrect or malfunctioning oil pressure sensor
- Incorrect or malfunctioning oil pressure gauge
- Plugged oil filter
- Malfunctioning oil bypass valve
- Remove the oil pressure sensor at the front of the engine.
- Install an oil pressure gauge and measure the engine oil pressure.
- The minimum oil pressure of a warmed engine at idle is 150 kPa (21.7 psi).
- If the engine oil pressure is below specifications, inspect the engine for one or more of the following:
- Worn or dirty oil pump
- Oil pump screen loose, plugged, or damaged
- Oil pump screen O-ring seal missing or damaged
- Malfunctioning oil pump pressure regulator valve
- Excessive bearing clearance
- Cracked, porous or restricted oil galleries
- Oil gallery plugs missing or incorrectly installed
- Broken valve lifters