Low engine oil can heighten the risk of engine wear and cause what little oil is available in the sump to breakdown sooner, creating harmful deposits. That’s one reason it’s vital to check your oil frequently.
Video transcript: What Does Low Oil Pressure Do to Your Engine?
Featuring John Gardner, ASE Master Certified technician, automotive technology instructor and host of Motorhead Garage, with AMSOIL Director of Product Marketing Len Groom.
John Gardner: Man, now that’s good oil pressure. Welcome to this AMSOIL Tech Tip. That’s what we’re talking about: oil pressure, what you should have and what you should not have. Well, nobody wants to see zero oil pressure. Not a good thing.
Where does it all start? Right there at the oil pump. The oil pump is going to shoot it up through all the oil galleries, and we’re going to lubricate things like the camshaft bearings and the main bearings. Everything needs good lubrication. Now, oil pressure should be, as you can see here, between 10 and 15 at idle, and 30 to 40 psi when you get it up to a little higher rpm.
What you don’t want is an engine that looks like this. We actually took this one out here at the shop, and you can see it here. I mean, this is a mess. The oil in this one hasn’t been changed, and it absolutely has not had AMSOIL in there. You can see it right here: the sludge, the followers, the cam bearings. Everything on this motor is wiped out. Done. Where did it all go? Well, look at the oil pan. All the debris and metal and everything ended up down there in the oil pan. Len, that’s not good.
Len Groom: That’s not good at all.
John Gardner: Oil pressure is key, even on high-mileage vehicles.
Len Groom: Yeah, that’s correct. You want to make sure that you’re keeping the engine clean, which is what that graphic you have there is showing. We want to make sure the engine stays clean, and that any dirt, any impurities, anything the process of combustion produces ends up in the oil filter.
John Gardner: Yeah, and you guys have one right here, a cutaway. You’ve got a high-quality product here, a drainback valve, everything, so you’re not going to have any problems with this oil filter.
Len Groom: Yep, that’s one of our oil filters you have there. That thing is good for up to 25,000 miles, so it has a lot of capacity to handle dirt.
Editor’s note: AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters with product code EAO are recommended for up to 25,000 miles or one year in normal service; filters with product code EA15K are recommended for 15,000 miles or one year.
John Gardner: Now, viscosity plays an important role with oil pressure as well.
Len Groom: It does. As we look at some of these new vehicles out there, the thin viscosities they’re requiring are really something. 0W-16 is becoming very popular. That’s a very thin oil, which means it has little room to thin out as it heats up, as most oils do. On the other end of that spectrum, you have your traditional 20W-50. There’s a lot of protection in there, a lot of cushion, if you will, because the viscosity is heavier.
John Gardner: The point is, use what’s required in your owner’s manual, or check with your engine builder, and make sure you use AMSOIL. No oil pressure can turn your engine into a hunk of molten metal. Don’t let that happen. Go to amsoil.com. They’ve got you covered for whatever you drive.
Here are a few common reasons your engine oil might be low and what you can do about it.
Common reasons for low engine oil
Leaking gasket or seal
Your engine has several gaskets and seals that provide an oil-tight seal between metal parts. If it weren’t for the valve-cover gasket, crankshaft seals, oil-pan gasket and other gaskets and seals, oil would continually leak out between parts – and dirt and other contaminants would end up inside the engine.
Using a high-quality oil helps condition seals and gaskets so they don’t dry out, shrink or become brittle. However, if you use a low-quality oil or you don’t drive often enough to allow oil to continually circulate through the engine to condition seals and gaskets, they can begin to leak, causing low engine oil.
Pop the hood and look for oil around the valve cover or cylinder head. Check the ground under the engine for oil drops. Slide under the engine and check for oil on the oil pan.
What appears to be a couple small leaks can quickly add up over time until you’re suddenly a quart or two low on oil.
Check that the oil filter is tight; a loose filter prevents a good seal against the engine block, creating an oil leak.
If you detect leaking gaskets or seals, have them fixed and start using a good synthetic oil, like AMSOIL synthetic motor oil, that helps condition seals so they stay pliable, resist leaks and function as designed for the long haul.
A bad cylinder-head gasket is a whole different animal. If it’s bad, coolant and oil will mix, which contaminates the oil and signals a death knell for your engine. Brownish or foamy coolant is one sign of a bad head gasket. Low compression is another.
In this case, you need to have the problem fixed or it’s a matter of time before your engine blows.
Volatile motor oil
Some people don’t realize it, but motor oil can evaporate just like water, especially low-quality conventional oils.
Conventional oils contain light, unstable molecules that can evaporate in the presence of heat. The oil literally vaporizes and exits the tailpipe as exhaust emissions.
Not only that, but highly volatile oils that burn easily also can leave harmful deposits behind in the engine, which reduce performance and shorten engine life. It also leads to viscosity increase as the lighter molecules burn off, leading to a thicker oil until it can no longer pass between metal surfaces. This results in sludge formation, inability to dissipate heat, reduced wear protection and carbon deposits that reduce performance.
Using an oil viscosity that’s too low for your engine can have the same effect. For example, if your engine calls for 5W-30, a 0W-20 can be too thin for the clearances in your engine, leading to excessive oil consumption. Stick to the grade recommended in the owner’s manual.
What Does Viscosity Mean (and How Does it Affect Your Engine)?
If you burn enough oil, eventually the oil level will be low the next time you check oil.
To reduce oil consumption, use a good synthetic motor oil, like AMSOIL synthetic motor oil. Synthetics are naturally more resistant to volatility, reducing oil consumption to help your engine stay cleaner and last as designed. Reducing oil consumption also reduces the need to frequently top-off the engine.
Comments
Brad Nelson is an AMSOIL Technical Writer II who develops content about lubricant technology, product performance and vehicle maintenance. He works with engineers and product specialists to translate testing, application requirements and approved performance claims into clear customer guidance. Nelson’s work includes AMSOIL Blog articles, AMSOIL Magazine features and technical explanations concerning motor oils, gear lubricants, vehicle systems and maintenance practices.
Share: