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As a trucker or fleet manager, you already know how important your oil pressure is when it comes to keeping your semi-truck engine running smoothly, but it’s worth the reminder. Oil moving through your system at the right pressure keeps all of the moving parts running smoothly and ensures that they have the right lubrication to avoid excess friction, overheating, or unnecessary wear and tear. For fleet managers and truckers, monitoring oil pressure is a critical focus to make sure that you are maximizing your engine’s lifespan while avoiding expensive repairs, breakdowns, and engine replacements. Understanding why oil pressure matters is the first step toward proactively maintaining this critical measure.
In this blog, we’ll go over the top five warning signs to keep an eye out for. Remember that LubeZone is here to keep you on the road, so pull into our nearest location today and let us give your truck the care it deserves.
Introduction to the Importance of Oil Pressure
There’s a sweet spot between too-low and too-high oil pressure that smoothly and evenly distributes the engine oil throughout the entire system. The oil creates a thin barrier between moving parts to keep them from coming in direct contact, which reduces friction, wear, and rubbing. This helps keep the engine running efficiently without causing damage to moving parts.
All engines need oil to lubricate the moving parts, but for sem-trucks in particular, proper oil engine is critical to keep you in good shape over long hauls and under heavy loads.
Low oil pressure is a quick way to expensive repairs and downtime, which will have a major impact on your operations and profitability. By regularly monitoring your oil pressure, you can identify possible issues early and ensure your truck’s longevity and efficiency.
Sign #1: Oil Pressure Gauge Fluctuations
Your oil pressure gauge is the first line of defense when it comes to monitoring your oil pressure. If it’s giving abnormal readings, that’s a big red flag that is probably telling you there is an underlying issue.
Why Oil Pressure Gauge Readings Matter
A fluctuating oil pressure gauge might be telling you about a worn-out pump, leaky system, or low oil levels. If you see it bouncing around, dipping, or giving inconsistent readings, it’s time to pull over and give it a closer look. You might be able to get away with ignoring it for a bit, but even if your truck is still running, engine components are losing their protective barrier, overheating, and getting closer to an oil failure.
For example, if you’re driving at highway speeds or going uphill, this might indicate that your pump can’t maintain pressure.
Sign #2: Engine Noises
Strange noises like knocking, grinding, or ticks can be a sign of all sorts of different problems, but one may be low oil pressure. When there isn’t enough oil lubricating your engine’s moving parts, the metal components are in direct contact with each other during operation — and it never sounds good.
Common Engine Sounds to Listen For
A knock or tick coming from a running engine can be a sign of low oil pressure, causing the crankshaft to knock against other components, which can result in serious engine damage. Similarly, ticking might be your valve filters or camshaft, also alerting you to lubrication issues.
Pretending these sounds aren’t there won’t make them go away — so act quickly to avoid irreparable damage to your engine. Come by the nearest LubeZone to have a technician take a look at your system, get an idea of possible root causes, and perform the necessary repairs.
Sign #3: Oil Pressure Warning Lights
A pretty obvious sign that there’s an issue with your oil pressure is that the oil pressure warning lights on your dashboard are lighting up. When they turn on, there’s a problem.
Ignoring these lights, just like ignoring sounds or gauge fluctuations, can lead to serious issues — and these don’t leave much room for interpretation. When your oil pressure is outside of the safe range, it’s a clear call to pull over, turn off your engine, and look for obvious problems. Continuing to drive can cause overheating, blown gaskets, and might even fully seize your engine.
Once you stop, check your oil levels. If they look ok, there’s probably an underlying issue. If your oil is low, top it off and start the truck again. If they turn off, your oil levels may have been the issue.
Sign #4: Oil Leaks
A visible oil leak around your engine or under your vehicle is a very clear sign that you’re having some issues with your oil system. When oil leaks, the levels in the system drop, which in turn decreases the pressure the system can maintain.
Leaks are often identified because there is an oil puddle under the truck — but it can easily be overlooked if you aren’t looking under the spot you were parked. Some people put a large piece of cardboard under their engine overnight if they suspect a leak, and check back in the morning for stains.
To address a leak, check your oil pan, valve covers, and gaskets, which are three common culprits for leaks. Keeping up with regular oil changes and routinely inspecting your engine are two key steps to identifying leaks early and avoiding pressure issues.
Sign #5: Engine Overheating
When your engine can’t maintain correct pressure, the oil can’t lubricate the engine and provide adequate coverage, leading to overheating. The metal parts in the engine are moving at high speeds, and when they rub without that layer of oil, they generate a lot of extra heat, very quickly — in addition to accusing direct wear and tear to the components themselves.
Without the right lubrication, the overheating can damage and warp things like your pistons, cylinders, or bearings. When any of these components fail, it can cause widespread problems for the rest of your engine and peripheral parts.
For truckers, your temperature gauge will start to rise, or you’ll start to smell burning from the engine compartment. Pull over immediately, let things cool down, and check your oil levels. Ignoring overheating can cause your entire engine to seize or otherwise fail.
Preventative Measures to Avoid Oil Pressure Issues
Preventative maintenance is the key to making sure that your engine — and the rest of your semi-truck — is running smoothly. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid oil pressure issues:
Regularly Check Oil Levels
Even if you get oil changes often, it’s important to check your oil levels regularly and top off when necessary. It’s not a bad idea to check your levels every time, or every other time, you fuel up. Low oil levels are one of the most common causes of oil pressure problems, and if it isn’t due to leaks, then it’s an easy way to avoid problems.
Schedule Routine Oil Changes
Keeping up with your oil change schedule is critical. Fresh oil removes sludge from your engine, which can block the flow of oil and cause pressure issues. Semi-trucks usually get oil changes frequently because of long-haul mileage and heavy loads, so make sure that you keep up with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Inspect for Leaks
Routinely inspecting your engine and underneath your truck can help spot leaks before they become a bigger problem and lead to issues with your oil pressure. Check under your truck for puddles and inspect the oil pan and valve covers. Repairing an early leak can avoid pressure drops and keep it stable.
Monitor the Oil Pump and Pressure Gauge
Problems with your oil pump can lead to irregular oil flow throughout the systems, or an inability to maintain steady pressure. Inspecting your pump and keeping an eye on your pressure gauge while driving can help identify problems early and avoid major issues.
Visit LubeZone For Your Oil Needs
LubeZone is proud to partner with our semi-truckers to keep their trucks running reliably and efficiently. Stop into a LubeZone location today for an oil change and preventative maintenance to keep things in great shape for years to come.
Recognizing the warning signs and knowing the preventative measures will protect your truck and keep your rig running smoothly. Oil pressure is one of the many different factors that a trucker needs to keep tabs on in order to keep their truck in great shape, and LubeZone is proud to offer support with the many different services we offer.
LubeZone is the fastest growing dedicated semi-truck service in the United States with locations in Texas, California, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Georgia. Our preventative maintenance solutions are designed to get the professional driver back on the road FAST.
