The oil pressure warning light (a red symbol showing an oil can with a drip) is one of the most serious dashboard warnings your car can show. Unlike many dashboard lights that allow you time to investigate, this one demands immediate action.
What the oil pressure warning light means
The light indicates that oil pressure in the engine has dropped below the safe minimum. Engine oil under pressure lubricates all the moving metal components inside the engine. Without adequate pressure, those components make metal-to-metal contact and begin to wear or seize within seconds to minutes.
What to do if it comes on while driving
Pull over and stop the engine as quickly and safely as possible. Do not drive to the next junction or the nearest garage. Every additional second you run the engine with low oil pressure risks serious, potentially irreversible, engine damage.
Once stopped, wait a few minutes and check the oil level on the dipstick. If the oil level is fine, do not restart the engine. The problem may be a failed oil pump, a serious oil leak, or a faulty sensor. Any of these require professional diagnosis before driving again.
Common causes
- Oil level too low (the most common and most easily avoided cause)
- Oil pump failure
- Blocked oil filter
- Major oil leak
- Faulty oil pressure sensor (the light comes on but pressure is actually fine)
Is it ever safe to keep driving
No. Even if you suspect it is a faulty sensor, the risk of it being a genuine pressure loss is too high. The cost of a faulty sensor replacement is a fraction of the cost of an engine rebuild after oil starvation damage.
If your oil pressure light has come on, call us on 0131 554 3423. We will advise on recovery if needed and carry out a full diagnosis.