Chevy Silverado Oil Pressure Gauge Not Working: How to Fix

The oil pressure gauge issue is one that most Chevy vehicles, including the Silverado, have faced over time. It seems that this issue is synonymous with Chevys. So if your Chevy Silverado oil pressure gauge is not working, you are not alone.

Now that your oil pressure gauge is not working, what do you do? This is the question we hope to answer in this post. We will tell you the possible causes of the problem and how to fix it. Let’s get started.

How the Chevy Silverado Oil Pressure Gauge Works

Before we discuss the possible problems and their fixes, let’s look at how the oil pressure gauge works. This will help us understand the problems and fixes a lot better. There are two types of oil pressure gauges, mechanical and electric.

The mechanical gauge makes use of a spring that responds to the oil pressure. It also has a coiled tube that is also referred to as a bulb. This tube is attached to the outer casing of the gauge as well as the base of the needle. Just like it is with the car engine, oil gets into the bulb when there is pressure. It is this pressure that moves the needle on the gauge showing you the oil level over the dashboard.

The electric gauge makes use of a sender and a circuit to transmit electric signals through a wire-wound coil to the gauge. All these components ensure that the system can alter the position of the indicator needle. This is how you get correct oil pressure readings.

In some cars, you have a warning light instead of the oil pressure gauge. Now, you have an idea of how the oil pressure gauge works. Let’s discuss the symptoms of a bad gauge.

Symptoms of bad oil pressure gauges

Your oil pressure gauge is not working but you want to be double sure it is the one with the problem. There are several things to look out for to be sure that the gauge is faulty. Most of these symptoms can only be checked by a professional so you may need to send the car to your mechanic.

Oil pressure gauge stops working

There are several reasons why the gauge will stop working. It could be that the gauge is faulty, you need an oil change, or the associated fuse is blown (electrical gauge).

The best thing to do is that should ask your mechanic to check the oil level first. If the oil level is low, then you need to top up. You may also need to change the oil depending on how long it has been there. In the case of an electric gauge, the mechanic should check the associated fuse and the wiring. If the fuse is bad, then you have to change it.

Very low reading

When the car is idle, the pressure readings should be between 15 and 20 PSI. However, there are times that you get this reading when the vehicle is moving. When this occurs, then your mechanic needs to check the oil level. Sometimes, it is the oil pump that is broken so it doesn’t deliver the required oil to the vehicle.

Another reason why the oil pressure gauge will provide low readings is cold weather. This issue is very common in temperate regions. However, it should normalize after the engine is warm and the oil circulates. If it doesn’t, you need some help from your mechanic.

Very high reading

This is the other extreme. Normally, your oil pressure gauge readings shouldn’t be too low or too high. Once the readings go above 80 PSI when you are driving, you have an issue on your hands.

It is best to consult the car’s manual to see the prescribed oil pressure level. If your car is not measuring up or going way above this, you need to speak to a mechanic.

Other reasons why your Chevy Silverado oil pressure gauge is not working

As we mentioned above, there are so many reasons why the oil pressure gauge will malfunction. We have enumerated the major ones above. In this section, we take a look at the less common ones. The issues discussed in this section will cause the pressure gauge to produce extreme readings (very high or very low).

Oil requires change

When you make use of the same oil over a period, it needs to be changed. Why is this necessary? After some time, the oil loses its viscosity because it breaks down. When this happens, it sends very low pressure to the oil pressure gauge. The result of this is very low readings. Your mechanic should check the condition of the oil and suggest a change if necessary.

Blocked oil filter

When the oil filter is blocked, the oil pressure gauge will begin to provide very high readings. Typically, you should change the oil filter when changing the engine oil. There are several reasons why the oil filter could be blocked. You will need some professional help to change the filter if it is blocked.

Blocked oil gallery

When the oil gallery is blocked, it will also result in very high readings. The mechanic needs to do two things here. First, they need to flush the system of the current oil. After doing this, they can replace the oil after clearing the oil gallery of any blockage.

Wrong oil grade

This is a very common problem especially when you buy a second-hand car. Using the wrong oil grade will result in very high readings. It is always best to stick to the right oil grade. Seek advice from your mechanic to find out which oil grade suits your Silverado.

Worn bearings

When the bearings are worn, they will produce low readings. All you need to do in this case is to change the current bearings.

Broken oil pump

This will also result in low-pressure readings. The mechanic should change the oil pump and the system will return to normal.

Conclusion

There you go with the reasons why your Chevy Silverado oil pressure gauge is not working. We have also shown you how to fix the problem. Unable to find or fix the problem? Consult an auto expert.