Low Oil Pressure Warning – Emergency and Standby Diesel Generators
Diesel generators may report low oil pressure through warning lights or messages. Symptoms include increased noise and burning smells. Potential causes include:
- Low Oil Level – Check oil levels as low oil can be due to evaporation, leaks, or consumption; ensure the correct type is used.
- Faulty Oil Pump – A worn pump might leak or fail to maintain pressure; repair or replace if necessary.
- Clogged Oil Filters – Inspect and replace filters as needed.
- Faulty Pressure Gauge/Switch – If checks indicate normal conditions, consider replacing the pressure gauge.
Ignoring low oil pressure can lead to severe internal damage, resulting in costly repairs. Regular maintenance checks are advised to prevent issues. For services, contact Power Continuity.
Is your diesel generator reporting low oil pressure? By means of a warning light or a message on the controller display.
Have you noticed symptoms of low oil pressure, including a recent increase in generator noise (insufficient oil to lubricate the moving components) or a burning smell (leaking oil landing on a hot area off the engine surface).
Possible reasons for low oil pressure warnings in a diesel generator:
- Oil Level Too Low– This is the most obvious thing to check initially. If there’s not enough oil in the engine this may be down to evaporation or increased oil consumption. Due to the age of the generator, but visually check for leaks and replace/tighten components if necessary. Consult your generator manufacturer or manual to ensure that you use the correct type and quantity of oil. Your generator engineer will top-up the oil during each service. It’s good practice to regularly check levels in between such visits.
- Faulty Oil Pump– A worn pump may be leaking oil or may not be able to create sufficient pressure, in which case repair or replacement should be carried out.
- Clogged Oil Filters– Check the oil filters and replace if necessary.
- Faulty Pressure Gauge or Switch – If you’ve checked all of the above and everything seems fine, it may be that the pressure gauge is at fault. Use another pressure gauge to get a second opinion, and if the oil pressure reading is normal then replace the generator’s pressure gauge.
Do not ignore a low oil pressure warnings. As a lack of lubrication can cause serious internal damage to your generator, leading to an expensive repair bill. Regular checks and planned preventative service and maintenance can prevent this. As soon as you are aware of this issue then take immediate steps to ensure that it’s rectified as a matter of urgency.
Generator Oil Check by Power Continuity from Power Continuity Ltd on Vimeo
Playing in picture-in-picture
More options
Play
CC/subtitlesSettingsTranscriptPicture-in-Picture
Settings
CC/subtitlesOff
