Oil pressure sensor for your car

Always keep an eye on the oil pressure thanks to the oil pressure sensor Oil pressure sensors are sensory components that are very important for the engine management system. They constantly inform the driver and the control unit of the current pressure in the lubrication system. This serves to prevent particularly severe damage in case the lubrication in an internal combustion engine fails. The oil pressure sensor is also called the oil pressure reader. The name "oil pressure switch", however, is incorrect and should not be used. Oil pressure sensor design The oil pressure sensor consists of a sturdy housing. The case is divided into two chambers, which are separated by a flexible or flexibly mounted diaphragm. A chamber is connected to the engine's oil circuit and is permanently perfused by it through a hollow screw. The diaphragm is connected to a small potentiometer. The higher the pressure rises, the stronger the diaphragm compresses the potentiometer's sensor, thus changing the voltage. This change in voltage is converted to the value of the oil pressure and forwarded to the display on the instrument panel and the control unit. Function of the oil pressure sensor The engine's oil circuit usually relies on an oil pressure pump, which promotes oil proportional to the speed of the engine. The faster the engine runs, the higher the oil pressure rises in order to permanently and sufficiently lubricate the many moving parts. A mechanical oil pump usually only allows for limited regulation of the oil pressure. Yet, given normal utilization of the engine, this is also not needed. High-performance engines, however, require a finer control of the oil pressure. This is achieved by means of pressure valves or electrically-operated oil pumps. For normal vehicles, it is always important to know whether the oil pressure is sufficient to ensure lubrication of the engine. Reasons for a loss of lubrication All moving parts in an engine must remain lubricated at all times. Due to the high temperatures and rotational speeds in an engine, damage to bearings, shafts, pistons and valves can quickly occur if this lubrication is lost. Four reasons can cause a loss of the lubricating film:

-Leakage -Clogging -Overheating

Defects at the pumping system If there's a leak, oil escapes until the volume no longer suffices to maintain the oil pressure. The leaks can occur outside or inside of the engine. Oil escaping from the engine is quickly determined, at the latest as soon as it is dripping on the ground. A leak within the engine, for example at the shaft seals of the valves or the piston rings will cause the engine oil to be burnt. This is noticeable by a strong bluish soot in the exhaust gas.
If the canals in the engine are blocked, the flow of oil is interrupted at that point. In this case, oil pressure drops rapidly.
If the motor becomes too hot, the oil can become too thin. In this case, the oil gets past the seals that serve to keep it in the lubrication circuit and the oil pressure decreases. Also, if the oil pump is jammed or fails completely, no oil pressure can be built up. These various reasons necessitate a permanent sensory and visual control of the oil pressure sensor. Oil pressure sensor defects An oil pressure sensor can have three types of defects:

- Mechanical, internal defect - Failing gasket - Electronic defect

If the membrane on the inside of the oil pressure generator becomes leaky, for example due to overheating, oil escapes on the side of the potentiometer. This can impair its function and eventually cause its failure. Furthermore, the potentiometer itself can corrode as a result of ingress of moisture. Repairing the oil pressure sensor An oil pressure sensor is a part that is difficult to repair. Besides cleaning the plug contacts or changing the gaskets, there is hardly any repair that makes sense to perform on this component. Thus, defective oil pressure sensors are usually just replaced. A fixed interval for the replacement of an oil pressure sensor is not given on most vehicles. Nonetheless, replacement is recommended every 150,000 km. Quality protects from damage The oil pressure sensor is an important component, which may indirectly lead to a substantial engine damage in case of failure. Therefore, care should be taken to opt for a high quality brand product when shopping for this spare part.