Skip to the main content.
New call-to-action

Save with our Specials. Shop Now.

Save with our Specials. Shop Now.

Save with our Specials. Shop Now.

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

Check out The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast

1 min read

Is there a low oil pressure additive?

Is there a low oil pressure additive?

Is there an oil additive that can correct a low oil pressure problem?

That’s a question that’s been asked for years by various drivers. They notice they have a low oil pressure problem or their oil pressure warning light comes on.  They speculate whether they can avoid a costly repair bill by using an oil additive.

oil pressure additiveSomeone who wants to take your money would quickly answer “yes, of course there is. Just use whatever we’ve got”. But if you want an honest answer, you’ll find the real truth is not so painless.

Most oil additives fall under the categories of either viscosity improvers or detergents. Viscosity improvers will, essentially, make the oil thicker. Detergents will clean out oil sludge and other contaminants, hopefully in advance of the oil being changed, but they’re not really intended for use before that time.

In reality, low oil pressure is a signal that there’s something wrong in the engine.  It could be as simple as low oil level (which can be corrected by adding more oil or changing the oil). Or it could a mechanical issue that isn’t going to be fixed with a simple oil additive. The oil pump could be bad or the oil pressure sending unit could be defective.   It might even be the oil pressure gauge.

Point is, there’s no low oil pressure additive that’s going to fix something like that.

Oil additives can do some things pretty well, depending on what exactly you’ve got (what additive).  A viscosity modifier isn’t going to be a lot of good in most situations. An EP protective additive can help the oil’s lubricity stay optimal under harsh and extreme conditions.  An oil additive that works by including added stabilizers, dispersants and anti-corrosion ingredients can add value by supplementing the additives that already come standard in the oil but which get used up over time.  So those kind of oil additives can have some use.

But an oil additive to fix a low oil pressure problem? Not likely.

You may be interested in these other posts about Car Care:

X-TRA Lube Oil Additive

What to do When Your Diesel Fuel Starts to Gel

What to do When Your Diesel Fuel Starts to Gel

Are you gellin'? No, this isn't a Dr. Scholl's ad, but rather a question all diesel fuel users should be asking themselves during the cold winter...

Read More
It's Here: More E15 In Our Gasoline

It's Here: More E15 In Our Gasoline

This past year (past two years, really) has been kind of rough on the gasoline budgets of American families, as supply fluctuations and certain world...

Read More
EPA Rules Mean More Electric Cars In Our Future?

EPA Rules Mean More Electric Cars In Our Future?

Our automobile landscape is about to undergo a fundamental shift that will forever transform it. We’ve seen tipping points before - points where...

Read More
Are Oil Additives Bad For Your Engine?

2 min read

Are Oil Additives Bad For Your Engine?

Bad for your engine, you ask? Probably not - but are they actually all that good? Many of them aren’t, while many of them mischaracterize the...

Read More
What to do When Storing Your Car for More than 30 Days

2 min read

What to do When Storing Your Car for More than 30 Days

Is it time to put the old hot rod in storage until spring? Lots of people only own seasonal cars - or they choose to put a car in storage if they...

Read More
Drivers Keeping Cars Longer - Maintenance for Older Cars

1 min read

Drivers Keeping Cars Longer - Maintenance for Older Cars

New market research seems to confirm what many drivers already know – that more and more people are deciding to keep their cars. It used to be that...

Read More