Oil Pressure Diagnosis and Testing
WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.
- With the vehicle on a level surface, allow adequate drain down time, 2-3 minutes and measure for a low engine oil level.
Add the recommended grade engine oil and fill the crankcase until the oil level measures FULL on the oil level indicator.
- Operate the engine and verify low or no oil pressure on the vehicle oil pressure gauge or the oil indicator light.
Listen for a noisy valve train or a knocking noise.
- Inspect for the following:
- Engine oil diluted by moisture or unburned fuel mixtures
- Improper engine oil viscosity for the expected temperature
- Incorrect or faulty oil pressure gauge sensor
- Incorrect or faulty oil pressure gauge
- Plugged oil filter
- Malfunctioning oil filter bypass valve
- Remove the oil pressure gauge sensor or another engine block oil gallery plug.
- Install an oil pressure gauge.
- Start the engine and then allow the engine to reach normal operation temperature.
- Measure the engine oil pressure at the following RPM:
Specification
- 42 kPa (6 psig) minimum, at 1, 000 RPM
- 125 kPa (18 psig) minimum, at 2, 000 RPM
- 166 kPa (24 psig) minimum, at 4, 000 RPM
- If the engine oil pressure is below minimum specifications, inspect the engine for one or more of the following:
- Oil pump worn or dirty
- Malfunctioning oil pump pressure relief valve
- Oil pump screen loose, plugged or damaged
- Excessive bearing clearance
- Cracked, porous or restricted oil galleries
- Engine block oil gallery plugs missing or incorrectly installed
- Broken valve lifters