What is the cause of low oil pressure?
There are many different causes of low oil pressure. Some are difficult and expensive to fix, some are cheap and easy to fix, but no matter the cause when the oil pressure gauge indicates the oil is operating outside of acceptable parameters you should pay close attention and take immediate steps to fix the problem.
The first thing to check is the level of oil. When you take out the dipstick and examine the level of the oil it and should be between the manufacturer's recommended limits, if it is too low then top up the level. This is the cheapest and easiest fix to make. It's important to use a good quality oil to help extend the life of your engine. Cheap oil changes can be tempting but always stick to a brand endorsed by the American Petroleum Institute for extra peace of mind.
Over time parts of the engine begin to wear down. This problem can be compounded if the oil is not changed in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommended mileage or usage oil change schedule. Even small increases in the clearances between moving parts the oil has to lubricate can lead to dramatic decreases in pressure. There are no cheap fixes for this problem; the cheapest option in this case is prevention.
If the oil level is correct and the engine is in good condition the problem could lie with faulty equipment. The oil pressure gauge sender unit measures the pressure and sends a signal to your oil gauge on the dashboard. If this device is faulty it could be sending the wrong signal to the pressure gauge on the dashboard, or the warning light could be malfunctioning. These are less serious problems but ones that need fixing so that you can rely on them to let you know if a real problem does occur.
