What Causes Low Oil Pressure at Idle

Engine oil is to the vehicle as blood is to the human body. The oil spreads across the various engine parts, giving the right lubrication needed for your vehicle to operate optimally. It keeps your engine components protected and well-greased.

Your engine has an internal component called the oil pump; this pump assists in circulating the motor oil throughout every corner of your engine system. This results in pressure build-up by the oil, forming while it flows through the system.

If your vehicle has low oil pressure, it can rapidly wear out or completely damage your engine system. This is why motorists bother a lot when they have low oil pressure when driving or in an idle state. 

We will explain what causes low pressure at idle and how you can fix the problem in the best way possible. 

Causes of low oil pressure at idle

Your vehicle’s oil pressure is always meant to be within the specified range the manufacturer states in the service manual.

This will stay high enough. Some vehicles are built with an oil pressure detector, while some come with an oil signal light that turns on when the pressure goes below 50 or 70 psi, depending on your vehicle model. 

It would help if you always watch your oil pressure indicator or gauge. Please only continue driving once you discover what the issue might be. But what causes low oil pressure at oil? Let’s dig in deeper.

You can check our article on Supertech oil; you will also find other quality oil brands that should keep your engine running better. 

Low engine oil level 

When your motor oil falls below the recommended range, the oil pump finds it difficult to circulate the right amount of oil across your engine system.

It might not reach the top cylinder, which is a problem. This will trigger your sensors to alert you via the engine check light as the oil pressure drops to the danger area.

A leak can also cause your oil pressure to drop. You have to find the cause of you discover this problem.

Even if it’s just an oversight, keep a close watch. When your engine burns oil, it can also cause low oil pressure. 

Oil grade 

Using the wrong grade of oil for your vehicle can be related to what causes low oil pressure at idle, just like your oil filter.

Yes, some vehicles run on different oil grades, but some need a particular oil grade to function effectively. 

This depends on the engine your vehicle has installed.

Some engines require thinner engine oil to flow properly, while others require thicker oil. You must know your vehicle’s recommended oil grade to eliminate this cause.

Low-quality of the oil

This cause is mostly due to a lack of timely service.

Most people don’t see it necessary to service their vehicles at the recommended intervals and need help with this problem. Prolonged use of oil makes it contaminated and dirty.

Hence the quality slowly dies. The oil begins to lose its properties, which makes it unable to do the job. 

The engine will start building sludge because of the dissipation of the cleaning additives and compounds used in oil production.

Clogged oil filter

Oil filters seem insignificant amongst other parts of your engine system, which is not true.

You should know that every part of an engine serves a unique purpose, and when one gets faulty or damaged, it puts your engine at risk.

Getting a quality oil filter for your vehicle certainly pays better than low-quality ones. A high-end filter will not clog easily, allowing sufficient oil flow to all internal parts of the engine system.

However, even the quality filter can only succeed when you observe the right maintenance schedule.

It would help if you changed them at intervals because when they get clogged, it can cause you to have low oil pressure. 

Bad oil pump

The pump is the engine’s component that ensures proper oil circulation throughout the entire internal parts of the engine system.

When this component gets faulty, it will no longer be capable of circulating the oil, which is not good for your engine. At this point, your oil warning light should already be illuminated on your dashboard.

You might observe some clicking noise from your engine cylinder.

Immediately you observe this sign, do not drive your vehicle, and quickly find a parking spot. Driving with a bad oil pump spells catastrophe for your engine. It can damage your entire engine system completely.

Lousy pressure gauge

This can be labeled a possibility when all other factors are checked out.

When you change your oil, it requires time for the system to reset, so the wrong oil viscosity still shows. But if this continues for about half an hour, you should check your pressure gauge.

It can be due to electrical problems or the type of oil used that needs to be corrected for your vehicle. Whatever the case, go to a mechanic to get it checked out.

How can you solve low oil pressure at idle?

To fix a problem, you have to first detect what could be the cause of that problem. Once discovered, you are one step closer to solving the problem. Here are some effective solutions to low oil pressure at idle. 

Oil or oil filter change

Bad engine oil is useless in your engine and only damages the system.

You must stick to the recommended oil change interval in your vehicle’s service manual. You must change the oil once it gets to the replacement date. This is all you need to do to get rid of this problem. 

Top up your engine oil

You have to check your oil level first when dealing with low oil pressure.

Take out the dipstick and inspect the oil level. When the oil level is below the recommended gauge, you have to top it up. You can also check the condition of the oil, including the oil color.

This will tell you if you need to drain and replace the old oil with a new one. This solves the case. 

Use top-quality oil for your vehicle

Suppose you top up or change the existing oil with the wrong oil. It only makes the condition worse. You must fill or change your oil with the recommended type and grade.

You can check your vehicle’s manual to get that information. Once you know the right oil to get, always use that in servicing your vehicle. You need to replace the filter at intervals.

Change the oil pressure gauge

A false reading from your oil pressure gauge indicates that you might have an electric or sensor problem.

Changing the gauge might be a solution, especially when you are not experiencing any engine noise or having performance issues.

If your engine operates very smoothly and your gauge still reads low oil pressure, you must inspect that gauge first.

Diagnosing the electrical connections and sensors to the pressure gauge can fix this problem. Then you know what went wrong.

Replace your oil pump

Once you have discovered that the oil pump is the reason behind this problem, you must immediately change it. The replacement cost varies with the vehicle but should range between $330 – $1800.

For some vehicles, you will have to drop the entire engine to exercise this repair, and that will demand a higher service charge than other vehicles, where all you have to do is remove the crankcase.

FAQs

Final words

Many factors can be listed as what causes low oil pressure at idle. When this happens, you will get a warning signal to alert you about the situation.

Always keep a regular maintenance routine on your vehicle so it always stays at top performance and lasts longer. This information is sure helps a lot.