 | | Question: | | Is Synthetic Oil Responsible for Low Oil Pressure? | | I recently used Mobil 1 in my 1991 Miata. Oil pressure at idle was extremely low, which worried me. I replaced it with standard oil and the pressure came up within normal low ranges. This is not the first time I've experienced this phenomenon. Is this normal? | | -- K Brink, Thurmont, MD | | | Answer: | Oil pressure is directly related to resistance to flow. Because of the lower resistance to flow that synthetics offer, the oil pressure will generally be reduced as well. Lower resistance to flow also means less friction and potentially better power or efficiency. Of course the lack of pressure is not a good sign, as it indicates a lack of flow. Therefore, no pressure would require immediate action by the driver.
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