Introduction

The engine is the main component of your vehicle that drives the car by burning the fuel. Although the engine burns the fuel, it requires proper lubrication to move different components. That’s where engine oil becomes important, as it lubricates other parts of the engine. This reduces the friction and increases the engine’s efficiency in terms of burning the fuel and performing well (1). Furthermore, maintaining proper oil levels also reduces the chances of corrosion and abrasion at the point of contact.

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However, if there is a small genie lamp with an oil drop sign, it can be an indication of a problem with engine oil. In some models, this sign can also appear as ‘OIL’ blinking on the dashboard.

Although, most of the time, this sign seems to illustrate a drop in the engine oil pressure. Yet the experts suggest that the oil pressure warning light can indicate other discussed problems.
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Difference between Oil Pressure Warning Light and Service Maintenance Light

Some drivers confuse the oil pressure warning light and the service maintenance light (1). Although, modern automotive makers have included warning lights in the vehicle’s cluster meter.

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Yet some old models might not display the service maintenance light, and the drivers confuse the oil pressure warning light with service maintenance. In the latter case, the significant difference between the service maintenance and the oil pressure warning light is that the driver should stop driving the vehicle.

Where the drivers can drive the car when the service maintenance light is blinking, it is advised that the drivers should stop driving the vehicle when the oil pressure warning light flashes. The oil pressure warning light can indicate that the engine oil pressure is critically low, and lack of lubrication can cause the engine to seize up. In most cases, a seized engine is irreparable and needs to be replaced. Thus, to prevent this great expense, it is recommended to stop driving when the oil pressure warning light blinks on the vehicle’s dashboard.
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Why should the Oil pressure warning Sign not be ignored?

An oil pressure warning sign is a critical warning sign sent by the onboard computer when there is a serious issue with the engine oil pressure or related parts (2).

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This sign can also appear on the dashboard when the engine components are worn out or there is an issue with the oil viscosity. Your car can stop in the middle of the road if you keep driving while ignoring this warning sign.

Thus, the experts recommend stopping the vehicle for a while when this sign appears while driving. If the sign results from the wrong signal sent by the onboard computer or heated-up engine, it should go away after resting the vehicle for a few minutes. However, if the sign still blinks, it is time for you to stop driving and call up a tow truck before some irreparable damage is done to the engine.
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Main Triggers of the Oil pressure warning Light

Low oil pressure

Oil pressure is a vital component in the engine.

 

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The engine lubrication process relies on the pump, oil filter, and lubrication hardware. A certain amount of pressure is required to lubricate the parts of the engine, and this pressure is generated through the help of oil in the engine.
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The engine pump generates the oil pressure and pushes the oil through the hardware system. This helps in lubricating the components (2). But when the oil pressure is not generated in the required amount, the warning light turns on, indicating that the parts need to be properly lubricated. This is major because of less amount oil in the engine.

The oil may become less due to various reasons, such as evaporation. Also, the oil may become less in the engine due to excessive burning (5). Excessive burning of oil in the engine occurs when piston rings are defective. Also, the leakage due to the loose cap can drop the amount of oil, and as a result, the required amount of pressure is not generated. The engine’s oil level also decreases when the engine becomes old (3). This is because the functionality of the old engine is reduced, and it will consume a large amount of oil hence the number of oil drops in the engine. Thus, the low amount of oil will turn the warning light on.

In this case, you are recommended to stop the vehicle and take out the engine oil stick. Place the oil stick back after cleaning. If the oil does not reach the fill line, it is a sign of low engine oil, and you should fill in the oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. If the oil reaches the fill line, it is recommended to visit a professional mechanic, as the oil pressure is falling due to some component failure.

Defected Engine Oil Pump

Oil pressure can affect vehicles due to a defective oil pump. When there is a defect in the oil pump, less pressure will be generated, and lower oil pressure will turn the warning light on immediately.
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The oil pump is responsible for pumping the oil into different vehicle parts. When less amount of oil is pumped to parts of the vehicle, these parts rub together, and as a result, an excessive amount of heat is produced (2). As a result, the warning light appears, indicating that the temperature has become high due to the minimum oil pressure.

Other than it, there are various parts known as valve train systems, which help the engine function correctly. Besides the valve train, there are hydraulic filters, push rods, and seals. The functionality of these parts depends upon the lubrication. A minimum amount of oil affects the functionality of the vehicle parts. Also, the valve train continuously produces noise, and oil pressure decreases due to a weak or defective oil pump. As a result, the light is turned on.

The engine oil pump is mainly located below the engine, and the engine might require dismounting for the pump’s replacement. Thus, you should refrain from trying any DIY methods at home if you are unprofessional and take the car to a professional service center for engine oil pump replacement.

Issue in Viscosity of Oil

The oil pressure may get defective due to the difference in the oil viscosity when there is high or low viscosity.

When the viscosity of oil in the engine is high or oil, the required amount of pressure is not generated in the engine, and as a result, the warning light is illuminated due to the pressure difference.
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When the oil’s viscosity is low, the minimum resistance is generated, and the oil needs to be properly supplied to the car’s parts (5). Thus, the lubrication phenomenon slows down. When the oil’s viscosity is high, a large amount of resistance is generated in the engine. High resistance becomes a hindrance, and oil is not pumped correctly to different car components. As a result lubrication phenomenon gets weak. The oil viscosity depends upon the selection of the lubricant, its temperature, and the other contaminants present in the lubricant. Thus, due to the difference in viscosity, the lubrication process becomes weak, and components may get damaged. This, as a result, turns the light on.

You can purchase an inexpensive viscometer to check the oil viscosity. After reviewing the oil viscosity, compare it with the standard viscosity provided in the instruction manual. If the oil viscosity is above or below average, change the engine oil to avoid any issues.

Defective oil Gauge

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The oil pressure gauge not only determines the amount of oil in the machine but also helps detect the engine’s performance. The oil pressure gauge helps in finding any leakage or pump failure. If the warning light is indicated, there is a chance of an error in the oil pressure gauge.
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The instrument is either damaged or unable to measure the oil pressure accurately. Therefore, there are chances that sensors cannot perform accurately and wrong information is sent, which turns the light on (2). The other reason that turns the warning light on is the unusual noises and high temperature in the engine. Moreover, sensors require specific power to function, but the fluctuations in the voltages might affect the sensors’ performance, wrong oil pressure is measured, and light is illuminated.

The oil sensor is primarily located in the cylinder block or at the oil filter housing. In any case, this sensor is difficult to access. Thus, you should take your car to a professional service center to get this sensor replaced or cleaned.
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Plugged Filter

In the engine, a filter system is present after the lubrication system, and the filter system is responsible for removing the contaminants from the oil (4).

There are chances that there are some issues with the filter system, and as a result, the warning light is illuminated. The common issue is the blockage of the filters.
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The filters might become blocked due to the contamination and dirt particles in the oil. In addition, filters might be clogged due to the soot particles or water particles. Water particles usually enter the filters when there is a leakage in the cooling system. When the filters are blocked, lubrication of the parts becomes difficult, and as a result, oil pressure is decreased, which turns the warning light on, indicating that there is an error in an engine.

Try replacing the oil filter regularly (interim service maintenance) to avoid the engine oil pressure warning light.

Cost Required to Resolve this Issue

The following table illustrates the cost required to resolve the oil pressure warning light issue:

Common IssuesCost Required to Resolve the Issue
Low Oil Pressure$500-1500 to replace different engine parts causing a drop in the oil pressure, $1000 to replace the piston rings mainly causing this issue
Defected Engine Oil Pump$300-1300 to replace the engine oil pump
Oil Viscosity Issue$20-60 to replace engine oil
Defective Oil Gauge Sensor$100-130 to replace the engine oil gauge sensor
Plugged Filter$35-75 to replace the oil filter
Seized Engine$3000-5000 to replace or repair the seized engine
Labor Cost$20-300 depending on the issue

Personal Experience

I recommend to the drivers to take this light seriously. I used to own a Chevrolet Impala that displayed an oil pressure warning light. And I was ignorant enough to ignore the light and kept driving the vehicle for a few miles. After driving a few miles, the car stopped by itself, resulting in a partially seized engine. Although, I was lucky enough that the engine did not seize entirely, so I had not to replace the engine. But the cost was considerably higher than replacing a faulty engine oil pump. So I suggest the drivers respond immediately to this warning light instead of aggravating the problem.

Key Takeaways

So, the oil pressure warning light is a critical warning to which drivers should pay attention. This warning light majorly indicates low oil pressure in the engine that can cause lubrication problems and even seizing the engine. Other issues, such as defective oil pump, low or high oil viscosity, defective oil gauge, and plugged oil filters, can cause the engine warning light to blink on the vehicle’s dashboard. However, the drivers should figure out the problem causing this warning light to blink before it causes significant damage to the car.

FAQs

It is recommended to stop your vehicle after the oil pressure warning light is displayed on the cluster meter. However, if you are sure that the light is blinking due to a faulty sensor, you can keep driving the vehicle, as it will not damage the engine’s components.

If the engine oil viscosity is low or high, the oil pressure warning light will blink on the vehicle’s dashboard. In this case, replacing the engine oil will resolve this issue. However, if the light blinks due to worn-out engine parts or an oil pump problem, the light will keep on blinking even after changing the engine oil.

Water particles usually enter the filters when there is a leakage in the cooling system. So, check for any leaks in the cooling system, and resolve the leakage issue. Plugged oil filters can have other problems, such as driving conditions and the environment. Another reason can be the blockage of dust particles in the oil that can clog the filter.

References