FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Oil Pressure Check

^ After running the vehicle for a few minutes on a level surface, turn the engine off and allow for adequate drain-down time (2-3 minutes) and measure for a low oil level.
Add the recommended grade engine oil and fill the crankcase until the oil level measures full on the oil level indicator.
^ Run the engine and verify low or no oil pressure on the vehicle gauge or light.
Listen for a noisy valve train or a knocking noise.
^ Inspect for the following:
- Oil contamination
- Oil diluted by moisture or unburned fuel mixtures
- Improper oil viscosity for the expected temperature
- Incorrect or malfunctioning oil pressure sensor
- Incorrect or malfunctioning oil pressure gauge
- Plugged oil filter
- Malfunctioning oil bypass valve
^ Remove the oil pressure sensor at the front of the engine.
^ Install an oil pressure gauge and measure the engine oil pressure.
^ The minimum oil pressure of a warmed engine at idle is 150 kPa (21.7 psi).
^ If the engine oil pressure is below specifications, inspect the engine for one or more of the following:
- Worn or dirty oil pump
- Oil pump screen loose, plugged, or damaged
- Oil pump screen O-ring seal missing or damaged
- Malfunctioning oil pump pressure regulator valve
- Excessive bearing clearance
- Cracked, porous or restricted oil galleries
- Oil gallery plugs missing or incorrectly installed
- Broken valve lifters