Q: Oil pressure at 0

asked by on February 23, 2016

The oil pressure is reading 0. It does not need oil.

Oil pressure in a vehicle can still be at zero even if it is full of oil. The oil pressure is developed by the oil pump located inside the engine. If the pump veins cannot develop enough pressure to lubricate the engine, internal engine damage can occur. Oil pumps usually go bad over time and start by developing pressure when the engine is cold and as the engine gets hot, the pressure starts to drop. Eventually, it will not develop anymore pressure. The other possibility is a bad oil pressure sending unit. This is a device that actually sends the signal to the oil pressure gauge. There is no way to test the unit, so the normal diagnosis is removing the unit and installing a gauge in its place to verify the engine is actually developing correct pressure. This rules out the pump and only leaves the sending unit. Consider using the services of YourMechanic to help you diagnose your oil pressure issue and make the necessary repairs. I suggest that you avoid driving until this is checked. Low oil pressure will very quickly damage your engine.

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