Rick's Free Auto Repair Advice

Test oil pressure with a gauge

How to test oil pressure with an oil pressure gauge

What tools you need to test oil pressure with a gauge

Here’s how to test oil pressure using a mechanical gauge. A mechanical or digital oil pressure gauge attaches to your engine

oil pressure sensor socket

Gearwrench brand oi pressue sensor socket set

in place of the oil pressure sensor, so you’ll have to remove the sensor first. To do that you’ll need a special oil pressure sensor socket. Rent a set of oil pressure sensor sockets and an oil pressure gauge from a local auto parts store.

oil pressure gauge, test oil pressure

Oil pressure gauge tester kit includes adapters to fit your engine.

Disconnect the electrical connector

Late model vehicles use locking electrical connectors with an internal silicone seal to keep out water and road grit. These connectors often have locking devices oil pressure sensorthat must be removed or slid to the side to allow removal. Or, the connector may have a spring loaded catch. Over time the plastic connector can become brittle and crack, so exercise caution when removing the connector.

oil sensor sockets

Unscrew the old oil pressure sensor. Lefty loosey, righty tighty on these units.

Attach the oil pressure gauge

Install the gauge fitting and hose to the oil pressure sensor port and tighten snuggly.

Test oil pressure

Start the engine and note the gauge reading at startup. A good oil pump should generate 30-60-psi at startup and then drop as the engine heats up and the oil thins. Once the engine is fully warmed up, oil pressure must exceed 7-psi at idle and should rise and fall as you increase and reduce RPMs. If the oil pressure drops below 7-psi, that’s a sign of a serious problem. See this post

Replace oil pressure sensor

See this post on how to replace oil pressure sensor

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Posted on by Rick Muscoplat



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