Understanding how to read your oil pressure gauge is a little more complex than simply looking at it and reading the numbers displayed. Because your oil pressure gauge can read in many different ways due to many different variables, it is important to have a base-line reading to understand what the display reads when your car is running correctly.

To accomplish this, take your car out for a short drive – allowing the engine to warm up completely. Let the car sit at idle and read your oil pressure gauge; it should read roughly 20psi to 25psi while idle. Please check your manual for specific details regarding your vehicle.

If your oil gauge is reading low, it could be due to one of many reasons:

  • - The oil is too hot; this causes the oil to be very thin. If you have recently switched to new oil, this may be normal. However, if it is getting too hot and breaking down too fast, you need to change the oil.
  • - The oil may be diluted or worn out; get the oil changed as soon as possible to keep your vehicle healthy!
  • - You may have a damaged oil pan or tubes. If you have run over a curb recently, or otherwise scratched and bumped the underside of your vehicle, this may be the culprit. You may have an oil leak that needs to be fixed quickly.
  • - Your oil pump needs to be replaced.
  • - Engine bearings and crankshaft plugs may be worn or have fallen out.

If your oil gauge is reading too high, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

  • - The oil is too cold. Cold oil is thicker, making it harder to move through the engine, this will cause the pressure to read high in a cold car at start-up and idle. Allowing the engine to warm up should correct this.
  • - Changing oil types. If you’ve changed oil types, this may also have an effect on the pressure reading.
  • - If you have a sudden increase, check the pressure relief valve, as there may be an issue with it.

If you are still experiencing problems with your reading, there may be other concerns with wiring or in other areas of the engine. Consider taking it to a certified mechanic to have the vehicle checked over.

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