How To Check Oil Pressure With OBD2 Scanner (The Easy Way)

If you doubt your vehicle is experiencing low oil pressure, that may be a sign of some serious problem. That’s why knowing how to check your oil pressure with an obd2 scanner is super important.

Nowadays, most modern vehicles do not have an oil pressure gauge and oftentimes this can lead to the well-known “stealth” problem, which means that your car dies out of nowhere. And the worst part? You are completely clueless why this happened.

So, if this happens(and trust me, you don’t want to) significant and often extremely expensive damage can be caused to your engine.

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Today I am going to help you to prevent just that and spend that money on something more meaningful to you, with just a simple scan tool.

So let’s dive in.

Common Causes Of Low Oil Pressure

• Low Engine Oil Level
• Worn Engine Bearings
• Faulty Oil Pressure Sensor
• Clogged Oil Filter
• Incorrect Oil Viscosity
• Faulty Oil Pump

First, What Is Oil Pressure, And Why It’s Important?

Simply said, oil pressure is the measure of the force with which oil circulates within an engine. Your oil pressure is certainly one of the most important metrics in your whole engine because it helps to lubricate every moving part, which on the other hand reduces friction and prevents your engine from overheating.

Let’s explain it with real life example – You know that your oil is located in your oil tank, which stays at the bottom of your engine, right?

After that, your oil pump pushes the oil up so it can reach the cylinder head of your engine, but if there’s something that’s blocking that oil from reaching the top of your engine, you have a problem, and that’s where the oil pressure comes in. 

The pressure is built so the oil can circulate through your engine.

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Normal Oil Pressure Range

The normal oil pressure range can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the age of the engine, the oil viscosity, and the temperature.

However, a general rule of thumb is that oil pressure should be between 20 to 60 psi when the engine is running at operating temperature. 

Symptoms Of Low Oil Pressure 

Low oil pressure can occur in many ways that’s why it is important to be aware of the signs before anything serious happens.

Here are a few common symptoms:

• Low Oil Pressure Warning Light – This is one of the first symptoms that can occur and it actually gives you time to react and turn off your vehicle.
• Engine Noise – Any ticking or knocking can also be a sign of low engine oil pressure.
• Decreased Performance – If your vehicle feels sluggish or it doesn’t accelerate as usual that may also be a sign.
• Overheating – Oil is one of the primary cooling factors in your engine, and if your temperature gauge is rising, that’s also a possible symptom.

How To Check Oil Pressure With OBD2 Scanner (Step By Step)

Now that we’ve explained how oil pressure works and its normal range, let’s see how to measure the oil pressure.

Assuming that you already checked your oil level and let your engine idle for a few minutes, let’s see some quick steps.

Quick Steps to Check Oil Pressure

1. Locate your vehicle’s diagnostic port, usually found under the dashboard on the driver’s side.
2. Plug your scan tool into this port.
3. Turn on your OBD2 scanner.
4. Navigate through the scanner’s menu to find the “oil pressure” function. This might be listed under a sub-menu like “engine data” or “live data“.
5. Select the “oil pressure” function.
6. The scanner will display the pressure reading in PSI.
7. Do a quick Google search for the normal pressure of your vehicle.

Depending on the scanner you’ve got the “live data” reading can be missing, but there will certainly be an option to perform a test. This test will display a “fail” or “pass”.

It’s important to check if your scan tool is compatible with your car and if it supports live data reading. 

Here’s a quick video that shows the process:

If you are in search of a tool that can help you with measuring, you can check our article on the best bidirectional scan tools.

Common OBD-II Trouble Codes

• P0522: Low Voltage From The Sensor – This is the primary and most common OBD II code which means that your engine control module (ECM) has detected a low voltage signal from your pressure sensor.
• P0524: Engine Oil Pressure Too Low – This is another common code, which is not directly related to your sensor, but indicates low pressure. This can occur due to various reasons like a failing pump, incorrect oil viscosity, worn bearings and etc.
• P06DD: Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit Stuck Off – This is when your powertrain control module (PCM) detects an abnormal oil pressure.

And here are some related OBD II DTCs – P0520, P0521, P0523, and P0524.

How To Check The Oil Pressure Without A Gauge?

Checking if your oil pressure is low without a gouge or a scanner can be a tricky job, as you won’t be able to see an exact PSI. However, if you are in the middle of the road and you suspect a problem, you should immediately turn off the engine as soon as possible and work with what you’ve got.

Here are a few ways you can do that:

• Check your oil level – If the level is too low, it could cause low pressure.
• Feel the engine – If there’s a pulsation from your engine, this indicates sufficient pressure.
• Check for leaks – Leaking from the engine’s system can cause not enough pressure.
• Listen to the engine – If you hear any ticking or knocking sounds, that’s also a sign of a problem.

You can also start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes, this can help warm up the engine and ensure that all the components are receiving sufficient lubrication before you start driving.

If you don’t see any shaking or some poor idling then you can safely continue and visit the closest mechanic to check if there’s actually a problem and repair it.

Frequently Asked Questions