Hello Ben, my oil pressure is came on. Slight oil drip. Mechanic changed oil, replaced sending unit. Light came on after a day.

The oil pressure light came on recently after I purchased a 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV from a dealer. My mechanic said there is a leak (slow drip). He replaced the sensing unit, changed oil. Next day light came on again and kept going on and off. Took back to the dealer I bought from. They said there was too much oil put in and the oil filter was loose (?). The took some of the oil out, tightened the filter and I was on my way. Again this morning the light came on again. Spoke to my mechanic and he said that the engine may need to replace or possibly purchase crankshaft. What do you thi
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
You need to have the oil pressure checked to see if the oil pressure is within specifications before you condemn the engine internal problem with oil pump or crankshaft and bearings. You may want to get the dealer involved now and let them take care of getting the light diagnosed.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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If your oil light is on but you recently got your oil changed, you might have a leak. To check for oil leaks, leave your car parked on a level surface for a few hours and inspect the ground underneath it for puddles.
Under various engine operating conditions up to 110 psi (758 kpa.) of oil pressure may be displayed on the oil pressure gauge. This should be considered as normal operation during a cold engine start-up (especially during cold ambient temperatures). The oil pressure gauge may display all the way to the right.
When the oil pressure is low, it indicates something is not working properly. It also means there likely is not enough lubricant moving through the system. Keep in mind that lubricant starvation will lead to metal-to-metal contact and machine failure.
One way to fix oil pressure in this case is to use a higher-viscosity oil, such as switching from 5W-20 to 10W-30. This slight change in oil viscosity can make up for the increased bearing clearance, increasing oil pressure back to normal.
While this drop could indicate several automotive issues, a common cause is low engine oil pressure. So, start small and check your oil level to see if you need a simple oil and filter change.
Oil pressure is measured in PSI and the perfect amount of oil pressure varies depending on what brand and model car you own. In general, if the pressure is below 20 PSI or under the normal range on the gauge it requires your immediate attention.
Normal engine oil pressure is between 25 and 65 PSI. While the ideal oil pressure can change depending on the make and model of your car, the general rule is that oil pressure should be above 25 and below 65 PSI (pounds per square inch).
Low oil pressure is no joke. Keep driving when the pressure drops and you will seriously damage your engine. If your oil light comes on or you see any other signs of low oil pressure, have your engine serviced as soon as possible.
Engine Oil

Capacity: 6 quarts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (with filter). After refill check oil level.

The oil pressure control solenoid is a two-port solenoid used to control oil pressure in the mechanical engine oil pump and is controlled by the ECM/PCM. The ECM/PCM switches the pressure stages of the oil pump based on engine operating conditions, which include oil and coolant temperature, engine speed and load.
Engines can work without oil, but the effect is so damaging they are only capable of running for less than 30 minutes until failing – and in most cases, it`s a lot quicker than that.
Where are the Oil Pressure Sensors located? The oil pressure sensor is typically located near the bottom or side of an engine, between the oil filter and the oil pan.
The exact range of normal oil pressure will differ depending on the kind of engine you own. However, for most semi-trucks, the normal operating oil pressure is 40 and 50 PSI (pounds for every square inch).
An oil filter obstruction or blockage can also cause oil pressure to suffer. Oil filters include pressure relief valves. If this valve is damaged, oil will easily pass right through, reducing pressure. It may go without saying, but it is important to also change the oil filter with each oil change.
When too much oil is in the engine, the crankshaft`s rotation whips the oil up, mixing air into it. It causes the oil to be bubbly or frothy, and the oil pump pickup tube can`t draw oil in properly. The result can be low oil pressure – kind of ironic, isn`t it?
When too much oil is in the engine, the crankshaft`s rotation whips the oil up, mixing air into it. It causes the oil to be bubbly or frothy, and the oil pump pickup tube can`t draw oil in properly. The result can be low oil pressure – kind of ironic, isn`t it?
Generally speaking, you have about 2 weeks or 500 miles of driving before a flashing oil light turns into a legitimate problem. But once it hits that point, things can go downhill fast, leading to serious mechanical damage. So, try to get your vehicle into a mechanic sooner rather than later.
Generally speaking, you have about 2 weeks or 500 miles of driving before a flashing oil light turns into a legitimate problem. But once it hits that point, things can go downhill fast, leading to serious mechanical damage. So, try to get your vehicle into a mechanic sooner rather than later.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Hello Ben, my oil pressure is came on. Slight oil drip. Mechanic changed oil, replaced sending unit. Light came on after a day.
ANSWER : You need to have the oil pressure checked to see if the oil pressure is within specifications before you condemn the engine internal problem with oil pump or crankshaft and bearings. You may want to get the dealer involved now and let them take care of getting the light diagnosed.

Low oil pressure light comes on when idle. Check engine light is on as well. Both came on after getting an oil change 3 days ago.
ANSWER : It is possible that they put in the wrong viscosity oil. In rare instances, a defective filter will also cause low pressure. If there is too much oil, it will aerate and cause low pressure. Be sure the oil level is really not above "max". The P2187 code will appear if the oil fill cap is not tight but it will also appear due to a myriad of causes because that code only "generally" identifies a lean running condition. Consequently, numerous parts would have to be tested including the O2 sensor, gas cap seal, manifold air leaks, any vacuum leak anywhere including PCV and EVAP systems, exhaust leaks, and fuel system faults such as failing fuel pump, clogged filter and more. Since the car has relatively low mileage, you would not expect a failed oil pump, although the pressure sensor (or switch) could be bad. However, the occurrence of the oil pressure warning light is quite coincidental to the oil change, thus I would suggest bringing the car back and asking them to redo with a new filter and double check the viscosity of the new oil that they use. If the problem persists after that, you will have to test actual operating oil pressure (at idle for instance) as well as the oil pressure switch. Finally, if the oil pressure warning light comes on continuously, unless the warning circuit itself is malfunctioning, that means the oil pressure is too low to operate the engine without damaging it. Anytime the light comes on for more than literally an instant, you should shut down the car and thus an issue like this obviously has to be repaired.

If you’d like, a YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to inspect the vehicle and perform an oil pressure light is on inspection to diagnose the vehicle and suggest potential repairs.

lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.

I Had my oil changed on 5/28/16. On 5/31/16 the check engine light came on. On 6/5/16 the low oil pressure turn off engine came on
ANSWER : Hello,

From what you describe it would not appear to me that something went wrong during your oil change.

If the level is correct on the dipstick and the engine runs and sounds okay, then it is probably something else.

A likely cause for a problem such as this can be a defective oil pressure sensor, or wiring.

Virtually all vehicles have a dedicated oil sensor that will monitor oil pressure of the engine and set off a warning light if it falls to low, in order to protect the engine. If the sensor fails however, it can send a false reading to the computer or gauge, and cause the warning light to activate by mistake.

I would recommend having the vehicle’s oil pressure sensor tested for accuracy, and if necessary the engine’s oil pressure to make sure that there is no issue with the oil pump or system of the engine, as unlikely as that may be.

I’d recommend having a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle for you, they will be able to check for these failures and diagnose your Check Engine Light in order to get your car running normally again.

Regards,

Eduardo
YourMechanic

Oil sending unit life
ANSWER : It may be possible that the oil pressure sending unit is bad or the connection is bad. The oil pressure should be checked to make sure the oil pressure is within specifications. If the pressure stays in specified range then check sensor connector and replace sensor again. It may be possible the sensor is not reading the pressure correctly turning on the light.

Check engine light and oil light comes on before oil change?
ANSWER : Hi There,
As you may know, these lights are designed to come on at specific mileage intervals that are preset by the factory. When your mileage exceeds a certain amount relative to the last oil change, this will trigger the lights to come on. Typically this will include the oil light and the check engine light as there are also other basic service items that are checked during oil changes. I would recommend obtaining an owner’s manual for your car if you do not already have one. This will usually indicate the specific service intervals and recommended maintenance items for your vehicle at the various mileage intervals.

The tire pressure monitor will also come on when the air pressure in the tires has reached a specific threshold relative to the tire design specification. Tire pressure is also impacted by the outside air temperature. For every 10° drop in air temperature outside your tires will lose about 1% in PSI or inflation. As you may know, as the temperature of the air changes the density of the air changes as well causing the tire pressure to be impacted by this. When this happens, the sensors in the wheels will detect this change in tire pressure and cause the tire pressure light to come on. Aside from replacing faulty tire pressure sensors, another way to help prevent this type of fluctuation in tire pressure is by the use of Nitrogen in your tires rather than regular air. As you may know, air is approximately 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and the rest is water vapor and some other small concentrations of gases. Nitrogen is much less likely to migrate through tire rubber than oxygen. This will maintain your tire pressure much more consistently during large temperature fluctuations.

after replacing oil pan gasket,low oil level light stays on, but oil level and pressure are normal?
ANSWER : Bob: Thanks for your inquiry. Oil level and oil pressure are measured using separate sensing systems. If the level sensing feature stopped working at the time the pan gasket was replaced, either the level sensor was damaged, not reconnected, or the wire harness and terminal were damaged. There is a possibility that the wire harness was just never re-connected to the level sensor so check that first. If you desire that this problem be diagnosed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a warning light diagnostic – oil level and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Oil pressure light won’t turn off
ANSWER : Hello. There could be an oil leak somewhere, or a problem with the car’s oil pump not working properly. It is also possible that the new oil pressure sensor that you just put in is defective and needs to be replaced. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic complete an inspection to determine why your oil pressure light is on.