Oil Pressure Alarm

[Angus beefeater]

Oil pressure alarm started going off today in my 03 tahoe. It dings constantly until I turn the car off. After about 5 minutes driving around and the car dinging, my oil gauge shot from 0 to 40 and the alarm went off. Truck was driving fine the entire time....no chugging, leaks or funny smells.

I checked my oil and levels are fine and I'm not due for an oil change for about another 600-700 miles.

Is this a problem with a sensor? Anyone experience this before? Sorry if this question has been asked and answered a million times already...just looking for a solution.

 

[TraumaTruck1]

I would change my oil now if I were you. The oil pressure sensor is on the clean side of the oil filter, so if the filter is getting full, it can cause low pressure.

That's the first place I would check.

 

[Angus beefeater]

I would change my oil now if I were you. The oil pressure sensor is on the clean side of the oil filter, so if the filter is getting full, it can cause low pressure.

That's the first place I would check.

That's what I was leaning toward, it needs to be changed soon anyway so I'll go ahead and do it and see if that helps. Thanks TT1

---------- Post added at 01:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------

Well, oil changed....problem not resolved

I need to have a diagnostic done. I'm hoping it's just a bad sensor or something that's not going to cost and arm and a leg to fix. Truck is still driving fine but that damn alarm is driving me insane.

 

[Angus beefeater]

Took off the oil pressure sending unit. It was broken and covered in oil. Replaced it and zero problems now. $41 DIY fix.....I'll take that any day!

 

[JeDanRo]

The sending unit, where is it? In side the pan I assume? I'm sorry if this sounds like an ignorant question, I just bought a 06 Xl Denali, so I'm new to the newer car thing. I'm having issues with fluctuating pressure. I got the low pressure alarm once when I got on it, then I look down and pressure was at 20, then went up to 50 then held at 40. Yesterday I got on the interstate and hammered it, got the alarm at 20 lbs. once I got off the interstate (3 mile drive) I could hear ticking like a dropped/unlubed rocker. Got home and started it 20 minutes later, no ticking, but it's holding right at 21 lbs on the pressure.

 

[dieselfamily]

The sending unit, where is it? In side the pan I assume? I'm sorry if this sounds like an ignorant question, I just bought a 06 Xl Denali, so I'm new to the newer car thing. I'm having issues with fluctuating pressure. I got the low pressure alarm once when I got on it, then I look down and pressure was at 20, then went up to 50 then held at 40. Yesterday I got on the interstate and hammered it, got the alarm at 20 lbs. once I got off the interstate (3 mile drive) I could hear ticking like a dropped/unlubed rocker. Got home and started it 20 minutes later, no ticking, but it's holding right at 21 lbs on the pressure.

Ticking can be a sign of not getting correct oil pressure. Your problem sounds more like what i had which was a bad oil pump pickup o-ring. What is your cold vs hot oil pressure? I had lower oil pressure when cold (20-30psi) but once warmed up my pressure came up a little bit (30-40psi). I changed the pickup tube oring and now i have 50-70psi cold and 35-45psi when hot.

 

[Chiggy]

Oil pressure on a warm engine should be just shy of 40psi at idle. If it's cold, somewhere above 60psi. On the throttle when it's cold up to almost 80. Warm and on the throttle, somewhere about 60 and sometimes higher if you're on it hard.
The sensor is located behind and below the intake manifold. Get a new one and don't cheap out. I got two bad cheap ones in a row from the parts store before I got the (I think it was) Bosch. You'll need a light, a mirror, a 12 inch extension, and a sensor socket that fits the new sensor, and a little patience and maybe some thin arms. It should only take a few minutes to change it out.

this should help a lot https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=85027636&x-yt-ts=1422503916&v=O9useOM5Cc0

 

[JeDanRo]

UPDATE!! it was 35 degrees here today when I went to start it. It started right off with the alarm, and ever so slowly, and I mean slowly, it creeped up to about 18lbs with all the sounds of a motor starving for lube. I just bought it at the beginning of the month, and knew i needed to change the oil, so thats what today's task was. With all the hope and prayers I could offer that it was a clogged up filter, (the oil looked good), I had the oil changed, once done, I got in it, tuned it over, and it went right up to 40 then hovered right about 38-39 lbs. PERFECT!! I let it all circulate for a minute, and got on the road and let my typical lead foot have it's way. Pressure went up to about 50, and I got off of it, right back down to 38-39. I'm in love all over again. Thanks guys for the help, if it starts again soon, i'll try these other things, but for now, it just looks like the dealer's mechanic just changed the oil, and neglected the filter to save 5 bucks when he got it ready for display.