Oil Pressure Gauge: Symptoms and How to Read It

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The engine relies on oil pressure to move lubricant to all of its parts and areas that need cooling and greasing. Insufficient pressure will slow engine oil flow, leading to engine issues like overheating and premature wear. On the other hand, too much pressure can also interfere with the oil’s ability to enter bores leading to engine parts.

Fortunately, the oil pressure gauge lets you know about the pressure level inside the engine. Read on to learn vital things, like how to read an oil pressure gauge and the common symptoms of a bad gauge.

What Is the Oil Pressure Gauge?

The oil pressure gauge is a device that keeps track of the oil pressure in the engine. Some people drop the word pressure and refer to the device as the oil gauge.

Most oil pressure gauges show a range of numbers, often 1-80 or 1-100. They also usually have a dial with an indicator needle that points at the lowest number when the engine isn’t running.

Some oil gauge models drop the numbers. Instead, they feature H and L, meaning high and low pressure, respectively.

You can usually find the oil pressure gauge on your vehicle’s dashboard. It resembles other dashboard gauges, such as the speed and RPM indicators. Most oil gauges label themselves with “OIL” to make them easier to recognize.

The oil pressure gauge, or oil gauge, is a device that keeps track of the oil pressure in the engine.

Faulty Oil Gauge Symptoms

Most oil pressure gauges are not wear and tear items. They usually last as long as the vehicle. However, a gauge might fail earlier for various reasons.

Here are the most common indicators of a problem with the oil pressure gauge:

Oil Gauge Low

The oil pressure gauge can show low readings during or after periods of cold weather. Engine oil becomes thicker at low temperatures, making it much harder to transport. The low oil level readings will only go away after the oil warms up and the oil pump finally overcomes the resistance.

Oil Gauge High

Does the oil pressure gauge show low-pressure readings while the engine idles? If the readings drop below 20 psi or stay in the gauge’s lower quarter, you might have a faulty oil gauge.

A mechanical oil pressure gauge can develop a leak. Oil leaks reduce oil pressure, leading to the part showing inaccurately low readings.

For electric oil pressure gauges, issues with their wiring and other problematic components can affect the accuracy of their readings.

Oil Gauge Is Zero

If the oil gauge indicator needle stays at zero even though you can hear and feel the engine running at full tilt, the part might have failed and need replacement.

Usually, the oil pressure gauge will only show zero psi when the engine is turned off or idling. When you start driving at higher speeds, the oil pump sends more lubricant through the system, which registers an increase in psi. If the needle doesn’t move from zero, the gauge might have stopped working.

Other reasons for the oil pressure gauge showing zero psi include a faulty oil pump or a low engine oil level.

Oil Pressure Gauge Types

You can divide oil gauges into two different types: electric gauges and mechanical gauges. Both types do the same job of showing the oil pressure in the engine, but they use different methods.

Mechanical Gauges

Older vehicles use mechanical oil pressure gauges. A mechanical gauge redirects engine oil into tiny pipes observed by an oil pressure sensor. The diverted oil has the same pressure as the lubricant flowing through the engine.

Some experts believe that mechanical pressure gauges present more accurate readings than their electronic counterparts. However, mechanical gauges also require more attention and increased maintenance.

If one of its pipes develops a leak, the gauge will show oil pressure readings lower than reality. Engine oil will also escape the leak, which can deplete the oil levels prematurely and cause problems like overheating.

Electric Oil Gauges

An electric oil pressure gauge is the norm in modern vehicles. Instead of directly measuring the pressure of the flowing engine oil, the gauge monitors an electric current going through a coil. The coil’s resistance equates to the engine oil pressure, which the oil gauge displays.

One of the advantages of electric oil gauges is the ease with which you can install one in a modern car. Whereas a mechanical gauge requires several pipes that connect it to the engine, an electric one connects to an existing circuit in the vehicle.

What Does the Oil Pressure Gauge Do?

The oil gauge informs you about the current engine oil pressure, which is a good indicator of your engine’s health.

How to Read Oil Pressure Gauge

The oil pressure gauge starts at zero when the engine isn’t running. Its indicator needle will return to zero during idling.

It takes about 20 minutes of running the engine nonstop to normalize the oil pressure. Once the pressure stabilizes, the oil pressure gauge will move its indicator needle to the halfway mark.

If the oil gauge’s needle stays in the high or low range, something might have gone wrong with it or the engine.

What if your car’s oil pressure gauge reading shows H or L instead of numerical values? You don’t get the same precision, but you don’t need to memorize the recommended values.

Do you own a vehicle that doesn’t have an oil pressure gauge? Those models either provide a digital reading or put a light on the dashboard that illuminates and flickers when the oil pressure changes.

How Much Does a Replacement Oil Pressure Gauge Cost?

Need to replace a faulty oil pressure gauge? You can expect to shell out anywhere between $20 and $360 for a new oil gauge. The cost of a replacement oil pressure gauge can differ between products according to factors like their manufacturer, type, and recommended use.

The post Oil Pressure Gauge: Symptoms and How to Read It appeared first on In The Garage with CarParts.com.

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