Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
A sudden decrease or absence of oil pressure may indicate mechanical failure. Bring the vehicle to a safe stop and investigate the cause to prevent further damage. Do not operate the engine until the cause has been determined and corrected.
The engine oil pressure gauge, as shown in Fig., displays the current engine oil pressure. If engine oil pressure falls below the minimum levels shown in Table., the CHECK engine lamp will illuminate. If the condition does not improve, the STOP engine lamp will also illuminate and an audible warning will sound. The engine will then derate or shut down, depending on the type of engine protection system installed.
Fig. 1, Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
Table 1, Minimum Oil Pressure
|
Minimum Oil Pressure1 |
||
|
Engine Model |
At Idle Speed: psi (kPa) |
At Rated RPM: psi (kPa) |
|
Caterpillar |
10–20 (69–138) |
30–45 (207–310) |
|
Cummins |
15 (103) |
35 (241) |
|
Detroit |
14 (97) |
55 (350) |
|
Mercedes-Benz |
7 (50) |
36 (250) |
- Oil pressures are given with the engine at operating temperature. With the engine cold, oil pressure may be higher. Individual engines may vary from the listed pressures; observe and record pressures when the engine is new to create a guide for checking engine condition.