Land Rover Engine Oil Pressure Sender - Genuine Land Rover LR135718

Product Information

The engine oil pressure switch detects oil pressure and sends a signal to the ECU, most specifically for use in the dashboard warning light (“genie lamp”). This ensures that if there is a sudden loss of oil pressure, then the driver is warned and can safely come to a stop. Without oil pressure, the engine can catastrophically fail, so if you are diagnosing a suspected oil pressure problem, the oil pressure switch should be inspected. Oil pressure switches differ from oil pressure sensors which output a range, rather than just on or off. Modern cars may use a sensor instead of a switch to get additional oil pressure data for the ECU to use.

The switch itself is usually a small threaded metal body that screws into an oil passageway in the block, head, or occasionally the oil filter housing. A very small hole on the end allows ingress of engine oil, and inside the switch, there is a diaphragm and an electrical component. When oil pressure is pressed on the diaphragm, contact is made, and the electrical circuit is completed.

Engine oil pressure switches are very simple, so when they fail the issue generally isn’t with the pressure sensing mechanism itself. Rather, faults with this switch are more common with the electrical connector and its terminals, as well as oil leaks. If your oil light stays on when starting the engine, and nothing else has changed, inspect the wiring to the sensor before assuming the worst. Engine oil pressure switches are usually designed to be installed with the socket going over the electrical connector, so keep in mind the size socket you may need when replacing your oil pressure switch.

• Electrical connector failure: The engine oil pressure switch is subjected to high heat and chemical conditions, which can degrade the plastic and wear the terminals. If the electrical connector is broken or loose, the oil warning light may not extinguish.
• Internal failure: While not as common, if the internal diagram is sticky or may have been out of a car for a long period as a used part, the reading might be sluggish or stuck.
• External oil leaks: It is very common for an oil pressure sensor to leak oil after many years and miles. Sometimes the oil sealing ring is captured on the threads so if an external oil leak occurs the whole switch should be replaced.
• Internal oil leaks: It’s possible for an internal oil leak to make it past the electrical seals and into the electrical connector. It’s important to catch a failure like this early, to avoid oil from wicking up into the vehicle harness.

About Genuine Land Rover

The same parts Land Rover used to build your vehicle are sold as replacement parts under the “Genuine Land Rover” brand. These are manufactured under Land Rover’s direction, guaranteeing top quality. As you’d expect, they also carry a premium price and are sold exclusively through the Land Rover dealership network.

Genuine Land Rover parts trace their origins back to the earliest days of the brand in 1948, when Rover engineers built the first Series I using robust, serviceable components designed for durability in harsh environments. Over the decades, Land Rover established partnerships with leading European suppliers to ensure consistent quality and performance. This tradition continues today, with Genuine Land Rover parts representing the official replacement components engineered to the same specifications as those used on the production line.

What many owners don’t realize is that Land Rover doesn’t manufacture most of these parts themselves. Instead, they design the components, contract trusted suppliers to produce them, and then verify the quality. Many of these suppliers have partnered with Land Rover for decades. In the industry, they’re known as OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)—brands you probably recognize, including Lemforder, ZF, Sachs, Bosch, Valeo, Zimmermann, Siemens VDO, Corteco, and more. It’s not unusual to open a Genuine Land Rover box and find one of these brands inside—just re-badged with a Land Rover logo.

On our site, look for OE tags on product pages to quickly spot parts that come straight from the original manufacturers. Choosing these can save you a significant amount compared to buying them in Genuine packaging. For more details on how to identify OE and OEM parts, check out our OE Academy.