If you attach a diagnostic tool to your car and it shows a P06DE code, your engine oil pressure control circuit is stuck off.
This can damage both the engine oil filter and the engine. If your pressure control circuit gets stuck while open, the oil may leave the circuit — or leak out of the system.
This can reduce oil pressure, which causes engine parts to wear out faster.
Here’s the good news. You can fix this issue by replacing some oil filter components.
Read on to learn more about why your engine oil pressure control circuit is stuck off and how to fix it.
What Is P06DE?
P06DE code indicates the engine oil pressure control circuit is stuck on or off. This code means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected that the oil pressure has fallen below the minimum required pressure.
To counter this, PCM disables the oil pump solenoid for around 250 seconds and prevents it from sending oil to the engine.
Following are some of the cars that face this issue:
- 2012 Wrangler sport
- 2013 JK
- 12 Unlimited
- 13 ATS (AWD, 2.0t LTG, Auto)
- 2014 Cadillac CTS 2.0
- Dodge Caravan
- Chevrolet (Chevrolet Malibu, Colorado)
- Mazda (Mazda cx5)
- Jeep (Jeep Wrangler)
- Opel (Opel Insignia)
How To Diagnose the P06DE Code?
Follow the steps below to diagnose the P06DE code via the OBD2 scanner:
1. Plug the Scanner
Plug the OBD2 scanner into the OBD port of your vehicle. You may find this port to the left side of the gas pedal — accelerator — or below the steering wheel. The OBD port connects the OBD2 scanner to the car’s engine control unit (ECU).
This port is available in almost all cars manufactured after 2001. Refer to the car’s manual if you can’t locate it.
2. Turn On the Engine
Turn on the engine of your car. Once you do this, the scanner will receive data from all your car’s components and systems.
3. Connect OBD2 Scanner With Your Phone
Switch on the Bluetooth on your phone and open the mobile application of the OBD2 scanner.
After opening the application, click on the “connect” option to connect the phone to the scanner.
After you’ve connected the OBD2 scanner to your phone, you’ll be able to receive all warning codes, including the P06DE code on your phone.
P06DE: Causes
Here are some of the major causes of the P06DE code.
Defective Engine Oil Pressure Sensor
Your car’s engine oil pressure sensor may be malfunctioning. This may cause it to display warning codes such as the P06DE code.
High Resistance in Sensor Circuit
Another reason for this could be high resistance within the oil pressure sensor circuit. High resistance in the circuit means the circuit is not allowing current to pass. In other words, your pressure sensor circuit is open.
This may cause the engine oil pressure control circuit to get stuck in one position.
Damaged Wiring
The wiring of the circuit can get corroded, shorted, or burnt. That may cause the circuit to malfunction and get stuck.
Mismatched Engine Oil
Using incorrect engine oil is harmful to the engine. Such oil may damage the whole lubrication system, including the engine oil pressure control circuit. If the viscosity of the oil is not right, it may lead to increased friction within the engine, causing wear and tear.
Poor Maintenance
An unmaintained engine can affect the oil pressure circuit. For instance, if you don’t change the dirty oil filter, it can lead to increased friction in the engine. This will, in turn, damage the oil pressure control circuit.
Mechanical Failure
Any of the components of the engine, such as the timing chain guides, tensioners, engine oil pressure control solenoid valve, and oil pump, may have been damaged.
For instance, if the engine oil pressure sensor gets damaged, it may not detect rising oil pressures in time. This could be another cause for the engine oil pressure circuit getting stuck.
P06DE: Symptoms
Watch out for these symptoms of the engine oil pressure control circuit getting stuck.
Oil Pressure Light Turns On
The oil pressure light turns on if your car’s oil pressure is lower than required.
It typically means you’ve got low engine oil. But if you changed engine oil recently and can’t find any engine oil leaks, the oil pressure sensor may give a false reading.
Check if your sensor is faulty by using a pressure gauge to check the engine oil pressure. If the oil pressure is normal, your sensor is malfunctioning.
You can also use a fault code reader — OBD2 — to verify that the sensor is showing the correct faults.
Noisy Timing Chain and Engine
The engine and the timing chain are lubricated by the engine oil. Extreme engine oil pressures could cause both of them to malfunction and produce loud noises.
These loud noises clearly indicate that something is wrong with the engine or the engine oil pressure control circuit.
Oil Leak From Oil Pressure Sensor
The oil pressure sensor is located in the lubrication system. But if the sensor gets damaged, it may start leaking oil.
Check the location around the sensor area for any oil leaks if you see a P06DE fault.
P06DE: Solutions
Let’s put on our mechanic hats and fix the P06DE error code:
Diagnostics and Problem Solving
- Use a dipstick and check the engine oil level to verify you have the right amount of engine oil.
- Check the oil for contaminants by wiping the dipstick on an old T-shirt and comparing the imprint with an engine oil color chart.
- Depending on the first two steps, replace or replenish the engine oil.
- Look for any corroded, shorted, disconnected, burnt, or damaged connectors or wires.
- If you find any faulty wires, repair them.
- Clear the P06DE code.
- Re-scan the system and ensure that the code does not return.
Check the Wiring With a Multimeter
- Check the reference voltage, grounding, and resistance of all wires using a multimeter.
- Compare the readings with those mentioned in the user manual.
- If required, replace wiring so that all readings are within the manufacturer’s specifications.
Note: While testing resistance and integrity, make sure you detach the switch of the oil pressure sensor from the PCM. This helps prevent any damage to the controller.
Checking the oil pressure is also an important part of maintenance checks.
Checking the Oil Pressure
Follow the steps below to check the engine oil pressure:
- Attach a pressure gauge to your engine. (Don’t use a scanner as it uses the same data as the PCM.)
- Wait up to 10 seconds for the pressure gauge to stabilize.
- Record reading and compare it with the values stated in the user manual.
- Let the engine warm up while you observe the reading on the pressure gauge. There might be a small drop in the engine oil pressure as the engine heats up. This is because the oil becomes less viscous as it heats up. This means that the oil can flow freely, which leads to a slight drop in the oil pressure.
- Ensure the engine oil pressure is not lower than the specified value in the user manual.
Final Thoughts — P06DE Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit Stuck Off: Solved
The P06DE code indicates the engine oil pressure control circuit is stuck. This is usually caused due to defective parts or poor maintenance.
An oil leak from the oil pressure sensor, a noisy engine, and the oil pressure light flashing show an issue with the engine oil pressure control circuit.
Pick up your tools and take a stab at the error yourself. And let us know of your experience in the comments. Explore our blog for more information on engine oils.
