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Home / Symptoms / Oil Pressure Light

Four common causes for an “oil pressure” warning light on the vehicle and their related parts.

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Is Your Car's Oil Pressure Warning Light On?

The low oil pressure light indicates your car’s oil isn’t flowing properly. This can happen because of a faulty oil pump, electrical component, or an oil leak. Alternatively, the car’s oil might be fine, but damaged sensors send the wrong information.

Watch out: Stay alert if your car's dashboard begins to pop the "oil pressure" warning light. Your vehicle might be under progressive damage and might require hefty repairs in the future; it'll also feature considerable safety risks. So please, keep track of your car's odd behaviors and browse through our articles to find out the information you'll need to share with your go-to auto shop.

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

Is your oil pressure warning light on?

Whenever your car runs low on oil pressure, the warning light pops on the dash; this can happen for electrical or mechanical issues. So, the amount of oil lubricating the engine's parts is insufficient, or there might be issues with the oil sensor; either way, stay alert for symptoms such as loud engine noises when you accelerate, burnt oil smells, slow engine cranking, and rattling metal-like noises. Note if the "check engine" light is on the dashboard. Additionally, black oil or the oil dipstick coming dry from an oil inspection are common symptoms.

Did you keep driving with the oil pressure light on?

You can't drive long distances. If the oil pressure light pops on your dash, safely pull over, turn the car off, and check its oil level with an oil dipstick. You might drive to the nearest auto shop if the oil sits above the safe line and there are no engine noises. However, request a tow ride if the oil level is below that line. Also, try to notice any odd noises after turning the car off; if you hear anything different, don't try to drive; request a tow ride.

If the issue is a faulty oil sensor, you won't hear any different noises from the engine, and the oil level will be acceptable. You also won't notice any blackness on the oil, and the yellow "check engine" light might pop on the dash.

Do you hear odd sounds accompanying this issue?

If so, it's better to stop driving. It depends on the damage's extension. For instance, if the issue is indeed a lack of oil, running the car in this state compromises the entire system; oil act as a lubricant in the vehicle's internal moving parts, and the lack of it results in progressive damages. In extreme cases, a mechanic must tear down the car's engine to fully estimate how much this issue impacted it.

Failing pumps results in low oil pressure and engine protection. The typical symptoms that follow this issue are engine noises when the vehicle is running, blackish oil, burning oil smells, slow engine cranks, and rattling.

Do you feel like this is an electrical issue?

Sometimes, the issue can be electrical without actually involving oil pressure problems. So, an electrical malfunction can falsely trigger the oil pressure warning.

In this case, electrical issues don't cause abnormal sounds nor affect the oil level. Shutting the car off and restarting it might clear the light for a while. Even tapping on the dash can make the warning go out. Sometimes, a "check engine" light can pop up too.

Are your oil pressure light and check engine light both on ?

This can relate to a faulty oil pressure switch. An oil pressure switch failure can happen because of electrical issues; these types of problems do not show any aggressive symptoms, and the car's behavior shouldn't change drastically. The oil level might be full and clean, with no odd symptoms or noises coming from the car. Still, the "check engine" light might appear on the dash next to the red oil pressure warning.

Is your oil filter very old?

A clogged oil filter can trigger the "oil warning" light on the dash since the filter is vital in maintaining oil quality and pressure. In this case, the oil probably gets a dark-colored appearance and might be at a low level; stop the car and check this with an oil dipstick. Additionally, if your vehicle is underperforming, ask for a tow ride.

Some oil filters have a bypass valve in the filter, and some manufacturers have a pressure relief valve in the oiling system. If the filter clogs up, the oil bypasses it, contaminating itself and damaging internal engine components. In this same scenario, some oil filters can come apart and lodge filter particles through the car's oilways.

If sludge and filter particles obstruct the car's oil passages, you might notice poor performance; the engine sputters when accelerating, odd noises coming from underhood, a burnt oil smell, and the yellow "check engine" light popping on the dash.

The most common causes for an oil pressure warning light

The most common causes for the oil pressure warning light are:

Low engine oil: A low amount of oil in the engine means that there won’t be enough fluid to maintain the proper oil flow. Low engine oil most commonly happens due to leaks in the oil pan, seals, engine valves, etc.
Electrical issues: Electrical issues can lead to a faulty oil pressure sensor connection. Without a working oil pressure sensor, the system picks up the wrong data, which can trigger a warning on the dashboard.
Faulty oil pump: An oil pump works by applying pressure to the oil and pumping it through the vehicle’s oil lines, ensuring it reaches all the places it needs. Therefore, a faulty or worn oil pump won’t pump the oil properly, leading to insufficient oil pressure and triggering the warning oil light.
Faulty instrument cluster: The instrument cluster is a collection of gauges and dials, including the warning lights that sit behind the dashboard. The cluster illuminates the warning lights that you see on the dash. Therefore, when they fail, they might send incorrect warning lights and oil pressure gauge readings.
Clogged oil system: If the oil system is clogged, then accumulated debris is blocking the oil flow. Consequently, regardless of oil pressure, oil is not moving properly inside the vehicle, which the internal sensor picks up on. Therefore, a red oil pressure light flashes on the dashboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is your oil pressure warning light on?

Whenever your car runs low on oil pressure, the warning light pops on the dash; this can happen for electrical or mechanical issues. So, the amount of oil lubricating the engine's parts is insufficient, or there might be issues with the oil sensor; either way, stay alert for symptoms such as loud engine noises when you accelerate, burnt oil smells, slow engine cranking, and rattling metal-like noises. Note if the "check engine" light is on the dashboard. Additionally, black oil or the oil dipstick coming dry from an oil inspection are common symptoms.
Did you keep driving with the oil pressure light on?

You can't drive long distances. If the oil pressure light pops on your dash, safely pull over, turn the car off, and check its oil level with an oil dipstick. You might drive to the nearest auto shop if the oil sits above the safe line and there are no engine noises. However, request a tow ride if the oil level is below that line. Also, try to notice any odd noises after turning the car off; if you hear anything different, don't try to drive; request a tow ride.

If the issue is a faulty oil sensor, you won't hear any different noises from the engine, and the oil level will be acceptable. You also won't notice any blackness on the oil, and the yellow "check engine" light might pop on the dash.
Do you hear odd sounds accompanying this issue?

If so, it's better to stop driving. It depends on the damage's extension. For instance, if the issue is indeed a lack of oil, running the car in this state compromises the entire system; oil act as a lubricant in the vehicle's internal moving parts, and the lack of it results in progressive damages. In extreme cases, a mechanic must tear down the car's engine to fully estimate how much this issue impacted it.

Failing pumps results in low oil pressure and engine protection. The typical symptoms that follow this issue are engine noises when the vehicle is running, blackish oil, burning oil smells, slow engine cranks, and rattling.
Do you feel like this is an electrical issue?

Sometimes, the issue can be electrical without actually involving oil pressure problems. So, an electrical malfunction can falsely trigger the oil pressure warning.

In this case, electrical issues don't cause abnormal sounds nor affect the oil level. Shutting the car off and restarting it might clear the light for a while. Even tapping on the dash can make the warning go out. Sometimes, a "check engine" light can pop up too.
Are your oil pressure light and check engine light both on ?

This can relate to a faulty oil pressure switch. An oil pressure switch failure can happen because of electrical issues; these types of problems do not show any aggressive symptoms, and the car's behavior shouldn't change drastically. The oil level might be full and clean, with no odd symptoms or noises coming from the car. Still, the "check engine" light might appear on the dash next to the red oil pressure warning.
Is your oil filter very old?

A clogged oil filter can trigger the "oil warning" light on the dash since the filter is vital in maintaining oil quality and pressure. In this case, the oil probably gets a dark-colored appearance and might be at a low level; stop the car and check this with an oil dipstick. Additionally, if your vehicle is underperforming, ask for a tow ride.

Some oil filters have a bypass valve in the filter, and some manufacturers have a pressure relief valve in the oiling system. If the filter clogs up, the oil bypasses it, contaminating itself and damaging internal engine components. In this same scenario, some oil filters can come apart and lodge filter particles through the car's oilways.

If sludge and filter particles obstruct the car's oil passages, you might notice poor performance; the engine sputters when accelerating, odd noises coming from underhood, a burnt oil smell, and the yellow "check engine" light popping on the dash.

Typical fixes to address the cause(s)

These are typical processes and repair services that fix a check engine light issue

The most common cause: Low Engine Oil

The most common reason for a car dashboard to show an oil pressure light is because of low engine oil. The engine requires oil so its internal gears can move smoothly without excessive friction. This is because the oil acts as a lubricant inside the engine, ensuring a smoother grip between internal components. However, to properly lubricate, the oil needs to be pushed through oil lines so it can reach the spots it needs. The length in which oil travels throughout the vehicle depends on oil pressure, which in turn depends on oil volume. Therefore, low oil volume means low oil pressure.

Symptoms it causes: Apart from the check engine light, you might notice engine misfires, bad fuel economy, performance problems, engine overheating, etc.
High risk of priority: Low engine oil drastically decreases the engine’s life cycle and can quickly break the vehicle down.

How exactly does engine oil become low?

Engine oil typically doesn’t lose volume naturally. The oil travels through the vehicle in a cycle, where it gets a boost from the oil pump, travels through the vehicle, and returns to the pump. However, during this process, the oil becomes dirty and needs to be changed after a while. But, there’s no natural ‘consumption’ of engine oil where the oil loses volume. In such cases, the oil is probably leaking somewhere.

Go safe: Ask for a mechanic to inspect your vehicle to investigate the low engine oil and see if it means further damage. Many shops do transparent vehicle inspections and lay out your options after investigating your vehicle’s conditions.

What’s a vehicle inspection? It’s “detective work” on your vehicle, checking its systems to find if anything is preventing the car from working as expected. In this case, mechanics examine different parts of your vehicle to track what’s causing the engine oil level to leak. They’ll also check the condition of components during their inspection, noting which are causing the problem and which got affected by it, recommending to replace them in order of priority.

Transparency example in a low engine oil service

An oil system inspection is the most transparent process to understand why your vehicle’s engine oil is low. Let’s read an example of how this kind of inspection defines the service needed to investigate and fix a low oil volume in a vehicle.

In a scheduled service, a customer stated their car’s dashboard was displaying an oil pressure warning light, and the vehicle seemed to smell like burning oil sometimes. The technician popped the vehicle’s hood and visually inspected the engine, finding some signs of burning oil.

Next, the technician started accessing the engine compartment and investigating the condition of the combustion system, oil cooler lines, seals, valves, etc. After a while, the expert found evident signs of oil leaking through one of the engine’s seals and dripping under the vehicle.

Then, the technician checked the vehicle’s oil level, finding it too low. A low engine oil level triggers the oil pressure warning light. Next, the technician filled the engine oil to the proper level, which caused the engine oil pressure warning light to disappear from the dashboard.

The image below shows the technician’s first look at the engine oil leak under the vehicle.

Oil leaking under the vehicle's engine, causing oil to puddle up below the vehicle or burn on hot car poarts, releasing a burning smell

In this case, the mechanic put the “Immediate Action” tag on the engine's loose seal.

Similar Symptoms

Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing

Four common causes for a “check engine” light on the vehicle and their related parts.

Is Your Car's Oil Pressure Warning Light On?

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

The most common causes for an oil pressure warning light

Find Professional Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your oil pressure warning light on?

Did you keep driving with the oil pressure light on?

Do you hear odd sounds accompanying this issue?

Do you feel like this is an electrical issue?

Are your oil pressure light and check engine light both on ?

Is your oil filter very old?

Typical fixes to address the cause(s)

The most common cause: Low Engine Oil

How exactly does engine oil become low?

Transparency example in a low engine oil service

Similar Symptoms

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Why Are My Car's ABS And Traction Control Lights On

Why is My Transmission Warning Light on?

Why Is My Car's Power Steering Warning Light On?