Understanding About Oil Pressure in a Car

While many lights in a car could mean a variety of things, the oil pressure light is, obviously, specific to that problem. This is nothing to ignore either. While many of us manage to ignore even the check engine light for longer than we should, the oil pressure in a car needs to maintain a certain basic level to avoid doing long term damage to a car engine.

What to Do

If you notice your oil pressure light has come on, it is time to pull over, immediately. Once you are safely off the road, shut the car off to avoid damage. As long as you are in a safe area away from too much traffic, then you should pop your hood and check your dipstick. The oil should be at a certain level. If it is way below that level, you have a problem.

The best thing you can do is try to go get oil or have it brought to you and refill until the minimum level has been reached. You should, of course, check for leaks after refilling. Also, make sure to monitor the levels without waiting for the oil light to alert you to a problem. If you quickly lose oil again, you more than likely have an oil leak. This is at least less costly to repair than replacing an engine, which is what could happen if you drive the car on low oil levels.

Low and High Oil Pressure

If you find out you have high oil pressure it probably means you have faulty pressure relief valves. The good news is, high oil pressure is not a problem to be concerned with. Especially compared to low oil pressure. Low oil pressure in a car, as mentioned above, can cause severe damage to a car. The best thing you can do is remember to check your oil level on a regular basis. It is actually a good idea to check your oil level each time you fill up your car with gasoline. At the very least, try to check it once a month. Waiting until the oil light comes on could mean the damage to the car and engine is already done.

Other Things About Oil

First, when checking your oil level, it is a good idea to let the car cool down just a bit before checking your dipstick. While the engine is warm, heat can cause the oil to rise slightly, making it appear to be a higher level than it actually is. So, for instance, it is a good idea to check the oil level when you stop for gas, but after you have finished pumping gas. This gives it just enough cooling time. Also, low temperature and dirty oil can affect the level and functionality of oil pressure in a car.