Description
. How Does an Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Work?
Oil pressure sensors exist in two types:
- A simple switch that leads to an open circuit when it detects the minimum required oil pressure (for modern car)
- A sensor that measures the actual oil pressure in the engine (older car)
Both types monitor the engine’s oil pressure and transmit information to the oil pressure gauge on the dashboard.
Here’s how the more common switch type works:
When you turn on the ignition, and the engine is still off, there is no oil pressure. The switch remains closed, causing the oil pressure light to turn on, and the gauge reader is at 0.
But when you start the engine, the oil starts flowing into the engine’s lubrication system. The flow of engine oil from the oil pan to the engine block produces oil pressure, which is then detected by the oil pressure sensor.
The sensor picks up the pressure in the lubrication system and opens the switch (open circuit). It transmits the readings to the car’s processing unit and the instrument cluster panel. The low oil pressure light then turns off.
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