P0524: Engine oil pressure too low
The engine oil pressure is too low. Without oil pressure the engine can be damaged within minutes.
Updated
What P0524 means
Oil pressure keeps a film of oil between the engine’s moving parts. The engine computer reads it from an oil pressure sensor and stores P0524 when it drops below what the engine needs.
Not every car can set this code: many only have a pressure switch that lights the red oil warning on the dashboard.
Can I keep driving?
Stop and get help
Stop when it’s safe to do so and switch the engine off. Driving on can seriously damage the engine. Have it checked before driving again.
General guidance based on the code alone, not on the car’s actual condition. If in doubt, stop and ask a mechanic.
If the red oil pressure warning is on as well, switch the engine off as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Symptoms
- The red oil pressure warning on the dashboard.
- Ticking or knocking from the engine.
- A low oil level on the dipstick.
Common causes
- Low oil level or a leak. Check the dipstick with the car on level ground and the engine off for a few minutes.
- Worn or failing oil pump. Or a blocked oil pick-up, so the pump can’t draw enough oil.
- Faulty oil pressure sensor. A false alarm is possible, but only a measurement can tell: don’t assume it.
Typical fixes
- Switch the engine off and check the oil level. If it’s low, top up with the oil specified for your car and look for leaks.
- If the red oil warning or the code comes back after topping up, don’t drive on: have the car recovered or checked first.
- Check that the oil is the grade specified for the engine, and not overdue for a change.
- Have the oil pressure measured with a mechanical gauge, to tell a real low pressure from a faulty sensor.
- Replace the sensor if the measured pressure is fine; otherwise have the oil pump and its pick-up checked.
Questions
Can I drive with P0524?
No. Stop when it’s safe to do so and switch the engine off. Without oil pressure the engine can be damaged within minutes.
The oil level is fine. Is it the sensor?
Possibly, but don’t assume it. Only a measurement with a mechanical gauge shows whether the pressure is really low. Until then, treat the warning as real.