Q: Oil pressure

asked by on May 20, 2016

After driving on the interstate for about an hour, my oil pressure drops and I get the warning HUD. I thought I'd start with changing the oil. I've read about 'dropping the pan' - please explain that to me and is changing the oil my first step?

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The first step is to check that your engine has the correct oil level. If the vehicle has enough oil, the problem is probably with the engine. A worn oil pump, restricted oil passages, or worn engine bearings will cause low oil pressure. In instances such as these, the oil pan is sometimes dropped to inspect and/or replace the engine rod and main bearings. The oil pump pickup screen is is typically also checked for restrictions at this time. I wouldn’t keep driving your vehicle until you have the Oil Pressure Light inspected by a trained professional. The team at YourMechanic is an excellent option since we make house calls.

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