What regulates oil pressure in a car?

Question

My 1996 Chrysler Sebring Jxi is having issues with it's oil pressure. The oil light turns on whenever I am idling or not applying the gas pedal. What area should I be looking in the car?

Oil recently changed. Proper oil in the car. Oil levels at normal.

Answer 1

The oil pressure is not regulated as such... as in there is no actual device to regulate the pressure of the oil. The pressure is dictated by the viscosity of the oil and the rate at which the oil pump operates. That is the oil pump is operated generally by a mechanical drive from the engine and will deliver more oil as engine revs build, thus increasing lubrication as required.
If the oil light is on when you are idling then this simply means that the oil pressure switch is not registering the correct pressure, or there is not enough oil in the vehicle (check your dipstick), or the oil pump is worn, or the oil has degraded (thinned out or become too thick from carbon build up).
Simple solution is to begin with checking oil quality and level. Pull out the dipstick and check the level of the oil and at the same time use a clean light coloured rag to check the oil for quality (cleanliness).
If the oil is good and the level is fine then, if you can check the oil pressure using a gauge hooked up to the oil pressure switch port. A mechanical gauge for oil pressure (these are quite cheap now) will then tell you if your switch is faulty or if you need to get your pump replaced.

Just remembered... you may have a blocked intake for the oil pump. If your not particularly mechanically minded it is probably best to let a mechanic take a look. But it still helps to have a good idea what they need to do first.

This is only the basics but I hope it helps.

Answer 2

Well, just to point out the obvious - have you checked the oil level? This sounds like a low oil problem - when idling, the pump can't get enough oil to the engine because it's also sucking up air, because there isn't enough oil. When you rev it up, it can get enough through to between oil and air pressure to deactivate the warning light. When's the last time you had it changed? Have you noticed any leaks?

After that, I would say you have a sensor malfunction - it's requiring more pressure than necessary to stay open.

Finally, you may have a serious problem - once again, when the engine is idling the oil pressure is normally lower than when its revved up, and it's possible there is a crack somewhere leaking oil - it could even be back into the engine - and the pressure is too low when it's idling, but is OK when running because it's being fed faster than its leaking.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

there isnt any thing to reg oil pressure pumps rarely go part way bad they ether work or dont at all in my experence probly what your experencing is engine bearing wear the oil pump pumps directly to the main bearing on the crank shaft there is a very tight tolerance fit between these parts a few thousants of an inch as they wear out witch is bound to happen in time there is more play or free space between these parts this allows oil to excape and not go on to the next bearing and so on so this lowers the oil pressure the only real cure is a engine over haul but changing to a higher [thicker] viscosity oil may help for a while hope this makes some scence to you good luck

Answer 4

Main bearings worn gives low oil pressure.
It is regulated by a spring loaded valve which opens to let more or less oil through, unless it has an electric oil pump (Doubtfull).
Worn oil pump also gives low pressure at idle.

Answer 5

your oil pressure is controlled by your oil pump inside your engine[you have to remove oil pan to get access to it or to replace]if your light is comeing on at idle means your pump is bad not pumping enough oil to keep light off and pressure is low and if not addressed very soon engine will expire

Answer 6

oil pump, if the level is ok. poss oil pressure sendiing switch.