P0520 OBD-II code — what it means and what to check

ℹ Guidance only — not a substitute for inspection

Enter the trouble codes from your scanner to see what each one means, how urgent it is, and which checks to do first.

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Your trouble codes

Enter the codes exactly as your scanner shows them. Separate several codes with spaces or commas.

A letter followed by four characters, for example P0301. Up to ten codes at a time.
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Your codes, interpreted

What this means
⚠ Have this looked at now. At least one code you entered should not be left until the next service.
What to doArrange a workshop inspection now, and keep journeys short and local until then.

Your codes

  1. P0520 — Engine lubrication (service now). The engine oil pressure sensor or switch circuit is faulty. This code is about the circuit, and cannot by itself tell you whether oil pressure is genuinely low.

Checks to do first, in order

  1. Check the engine oil level immediately. If it is low, do not drive until it has been corrected and the cause found.
  2. Listen for any change in engine noise — a ticking or knocking engine with an oil pressure warning should not be driven.
  3. Have actual oil pressure measured with a mechanical gauge before replacing the sensor.

Codes this tool cannot interpret

How this result was reached
  • Interpretations cover standardised codes only, and describe what a code means rather than what is wrong with your specific vehicle.
  • A stored code identifies the circuit or system reporting a fault. It does not identify the failed part — a sensor commonly reports a problem it did not cause.
  • Reviewed by Project Owner on 2026-08-26.
  • This tool covers a reviewed subset of standardised codes. A code it does not recognise is reported as undocumented rather than guessed at.