Engine Oil and Oil Pressure | Engine Parts

Have you ever seen a motorist drive his or her vehicle regardless of any dashboard warning signals? Even when the red light on the dashboard comes on they still keep on driving as if the light were a disco light. This light is often referred to as an ‘idiot light’, the red one with the outline of an oil can on it, it’s unmistakable, you can’t miss it, it’s bright red and red lights mean you should stop.

Pull over and immediately switch off the engine and call a tow truck company to collect your vehicle. No matter where you are, the costs incurred will leave you flat broke and 'carless' for weeks on end and unless you have a Motorite Insurance policy, so you should therefore be more considerate to the well being of your cars engine unless you have a lot of money to throw away.

Oil pressure failure is usually attributed to a faulty oil pressure switch, a loose or severed wire and ultimately oil pump failure which means lack of oil channeled through to various parts of the engine. Sometimes one of the oil channels gets a particle lodged somewhere along the channels, large enough to partially block the oil channel causing the flow of oil to drastically slow down to a particular area of the engine.

This may effect oil flow to a single crankshaft journal for instance and cause the crank bearing to seize thus damaging a big end or main bearing journal of the crankshaft.

Why a piece of debris can become lodged or dislodged is besides the point , because when it lodges the engine usually comes to a grinding halt but these things can happen, no one is perfect. Usually one would expect the oil filter to filter everything that passes through it.

A good rule of thumb would be to change your oil and oil filter every 10,000 km’s without fail. Oil is the life of an engine so use good multi-grade engine oil. Filters can be purchased at your local motor spares shop. Here you can purchase excellent quality filters and engine oils.

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