Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
The Bulb Check: Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
When the ignition key is rotated through the Off, Run, Start positions, the oil pressure warning light will illuminate. The light is usually red and often contains the outline of an oil can. As the engine warms up, the oil pressure light should go out immediately or within 1 to 2 seconds if the oil pressure is above the minimum specification. If the oil pressure is not within specifications, or there is a problem with the oil pressure warning light self-test, the light will stay on, indicating there is a problem in the oil pressure warning system.
It is always advisable to check your owner's manual and familiarize yourself with your vehicle's warning lights. Some vehicles use this light and some use the low oil level warning light—some even use both!
What to Do: Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Whenever the oil pressure warning light comes on—even intermittently—pull the vehicle over to a safe place and shut off the engine ASAP. An engine with low oil pressure can be ruined in a matter of seconds. If the vehicle has truly lost oil pressure, do not attempt to restart the engine. You can check the engine oil level, but it's best to have the vehicle towed to a qualified repair shop. Be sure the shop knows the oil pressure light came on so the technician can take the necessary precautions when diagnosing the problem.
Background Information: Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
To maintain the minimally required flow of oil, there is an oil pumping system with little passages running throughout the engine that distribute the correct amount of oil to the right places at the right time. Keeping the parts that need to be "hydraulically locked"—kept afloat—in oil requires a minimal amount of pressure, usually about 8 to 10 pounds per square inch (PSI). If the pressure goes below this threshold, the metal components will start rubbing against each other, which will cause the engine to fail.
The oil pressure warning light system receives its information from an oil pressure sensor threaded into a major oil passage. Inside the oil pressure sensor is a diaphragm that touches a ground wire when there is little or no oil pressure—this is what causes the warning light to illuminate. When the engine is running, the oil pressure pushes against the diaphragm and disconnects the ground to the warning light, turning it off.
On more modern vehicles, the oil pressure sensor actually sends an oil pressure value to the powertrain computer. If the oil pressure reading goes below a specified level, the powertrain computer triggers the oil pressure warning light and, in some cases, shuts down the engine in order to protect it mechanically.