Q: Check engine light on & oil pressure dropped
The check engine light came on while I was driving to work. Also, the oil pressure gauge dropped a little. So I checked the oil level and sure enough, it was a bit low - thus I added oil. While driving home, the light stayed on and the oil pressure started to drop again. Please tell me what is the basic cause of this and what should I do?
Recommended Services
| Check Engine Light is on Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Hello. It is possible that you are getting a false reading as a result of a faulty oil pressure switch. It is also possible that there is an oil leak and that’s what is causing the oil pressure to drop. If this is the problem, you should be able to see oil on the ground. Another possibility is that the oil pump is faulty and causing a low oil pressure condition. I would recommend that you have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, complete an inspection in order to pinpoint why your Check Engine Light is on as well as the cause to your oil pressure problem.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Oil Pressure Issues
The PCV system on this engine is incorporated into the air filter housing and has no serviceable parts. If there is excessive oil in the air filter housing then the entire housing would need to be replaced as an assembly....
Feels like front right tire has vibration when turning left or merging lanes to the left at highway speed only. Bearings are okay
Hello, thanks for writing in. If the bearings are fine then the tires need to be checked first (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/uneven-tire-wear-inspection). If there is any uneven wear then this will occur. If the tires are all fine then the hubs need to...
My check engine light came on AND my cruise control light started flashing, same exact time.
Hello. Subaru has designed their vehicles to turn on the cruise control light when their is a problem with the power train system. This keeps you from using the cruise control when there is a problem. If there is a...
My car will not start - 2008 BMW X5
Hello there, many faults will cause your 2008 BMW X5 to not start. Since you’ve recently replaced the battery, a few possible causes would include the starter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/starter-replacement), battery cables (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-cable-replacement), battery terminals (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-terminal-ends-replacement), ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-switch-replacement), or a wiring...
New car battery, but there is no power to the car
Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. Check the fuse box for any blown fuses (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuse-replacement) that could have popped while the vehicle was at rest. If all of the fuses are okay, then check the condition of the battery...
How do I rewire under the dash pad? Many of the wires are just there disconnected and some are damaged.
Hello. If you were to purchase an entirely new harness that is made for your vehicle, it should a simple plug and play. I would not recommend tearing everything out. But instead, if I were to do it I would...
The Abs came on and other brake lights came on in my car. How do I fix my car problem?
Your car is equipped with wheel speed sensors at each of the four wheels which monitor wheel speed while relaying this information constantly to the ABS and traction control system which are controlled by the car's ECU. When the ECU...
Whining noise before starting-key in the ON position but not turning over the engine. 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Hello - your truck has a secondary air injection pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/i-have-a-vacuum-leak-in-my-secondary-air-injection-system-the-vacuum-hoses-were-replaced-and-engine-light-went-back-off-for-abou-by-david-h), which is powered by an electric motor. It is located under the hood, and is power up in the "Run" ignition switch position. I suspect what you are hearing...
No air blowing and compressor not coming on
You may have two different problems or the a/c control switch went bad. The blower since it has power then the blower resistor or blower switch may be bad. For the compressor not coming on you would need to have...
Related articles
How a Modern Engine Works
You You turn your key in the ignition, and the engine fires up. You press the gas and the car moves forward. You take the key out and the engine turns off. That’s how your engine works, right? It's a...
Symptoms of Bad or Failing Differential / Gear Oil
If your car has exceeded its gear oil service interval, or if you hear the differential whining, you may need to replace the differential/gear oil.
How to Troubleshoot a Car That is Hard to Start
"Car not starting" is a common complaint among car owners and is caused by faulty car batteries, spark plugs, car starter, or fuel pump.
Browse other content
Services
Maintenance
Estimates