Why Is My Oil Pressure High?

Oil pressure is one of those factors that need to be accurate for every car engine. If the oil pressure is very high or very low, then it is indicative of bigger problems. Hence, you need to keep a check on the pressure every time. Especially be very careful if you sense high oil pressure because there is definitely some problem that requires your attention. Therefore, it is a good warning. You should take immediate action because if you fail to act on it, it might result in a greater damage.

In all automobiles, the oil pressure sending unit has the job of measuring the oil pressure and controlling the oil pressure gauge present on the dashboard. With increased pressure, different components of the vehicle start wearing down, and they become impaired. That is why it is so important to make sure that oil pressure is balanced, not too little or too high.

Your car engine needs to be lubricated properly, and the motor oil passes through various parts of the car. Hence, the normal amount of pressure is required so that oil can reach other parts. There is a channeling system in every vehicle, as there are small passages and channels, and the engine oils pass through them to lubricate, seal, and protect your automobile. But if these channels get constricted, the pressure will boost.

Causes of High Oil Pressure

1) Blocked Oil Passage

If something blocks the oil passage, it will cause a lot of damage to the engine and could result in a mishap. If the blockage persists for a longer period, then it might affect oil lubrication for the engine. Hence, if it goes unnoticed, it will cause many issues for the vehicle, such as leakages.
To prevent this from causing any more damage, ensure that you clean the blocked passage by taking the car to a repair shop. Do not try it out yourself, as this would lead to further complications.

2) Filthy Oil Filters

When the oil filter gets blocked, the passages throughout your engine can be filled with dirt and other debris, leading to blocked passages. If this happens, then, unfortunately, there is no easy fix. You might have to flush the entire system to get all that grime out, but there is no assurance whether it will work. When the channels get blocked, the motor oil won’t pass through all the parts for lubrication. Therefore, this resistance due to blockage in the passages is one of the causes of high oil pressure.

If the filter is filthy, then the oil won’t be able to pass through because of all the dirt and debris being accumulated, so it prevents the engine from using oil. This would hinder the lubrication process. As a result, the car would have to exert more effort, which puts a lot of stress on the engine. This would lead to an increased temperature, further leading to high oil pressures.

3) Defective Sending Unit

Another very common reason for high oil pressure is using a defective sending unit. The car engine uses sensors to identify the current oil pressure. If the sending unit is faulty, you never know that you have high oil pressure. Most of the time, car drivers would ignore the fluctuating gauge readings. However, they must not take it lightly since the issue of high oil pressure could be arising because of a defective sending unit.
To resolve this issue, you need to have a multi-meter and turn it on for the resistance range. Check whether the range is 240 ohms. If you don’t get this figure, then take it as a hint that your sending unit is defective and it is time to replace it.

4) Faulty Relief Valve

A faulty pressure relief valve could be another possible reason. Every vehicle has a pressure relief valve that will direct oil if the pressure increases. The relief valves are designed in a way that when the pressure reaches a certain PSI, they come into action and direct the oil away. There is no way you can control the oil pressure if the relief valve gets damaged because then, the oil pressure will continue to rise
In some cases, the reading won’t change. But then, you need to look for other signs, such as whether there is a fault in the relief valve. Do check other areas like the sending unit, etc.

5) Viscosity of the Oil

Lastly, the viscosity of the oil matters a lot, too. When the oil gets thicker (denser), it will be more difficult for it to pass through the channels, creating higher pressure. The oil’s viscosity matters. If it is more viscous or less, both can be a problem for the engine. The temperature of the engine is really important too as it has an effect on the oil pressure. When the oil gets heated, it will become thinner, and it thickens up when it’s cooler. The oil pressure in that engine would be much higher than a normal engine during its start-up.

Therefore, to gain an accurate PSI, it is suggested to wait for about 20 minutes once the engine has been started. If the PSI reading is above 80, then it is considered too high. It is indicative of an unsafe engine as the oil cannot pass through all the passages to reach all crucial parts of the car. With no effective lubrication, the engine can face serious damages such as wear issues due to friction. In certain cases, it may lead to engine failure.

Conclusion

Too much oil pressure will disrupt the healthy functioning of your engine. And with continuous high pressure, you will face a lot of difficulty in driving. With early action taken, oil pressures can return to normal. For that, however, you need to figure out what is causing high oil pressure.