P0520 on Chevrolet
Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit Malfunction
P0520 on Chevrolet vehicles indicates engine oil pressure sensor/switch circuit malfunction. Au7o has documented this code across 1 Chevrolet model — most commonly on Silverado 1500. This code indicates a general electrical fault in the circuit for the engine oil pressure sensor or switch. The computer monitors this circuit to know your oil pressure, and it has detected a signal that is missing, shorted, or otherwise out of the expected electrical range. This is typically a wiring or sensor problem rather than an actual loss of oil pressure, but because oil pressure is critical to engine life, it should never be ignored until confirmed. If oil pressure truly is low, serious engine damage can result. Typical repair costs on Chevrolet range from $20 to $120, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Common Causes of P0520
- •Faulty oil pressure sensor or switch
- •Damaged, corroded, or loose wiring/connector at the sensor
- •Open or short in the sensor circuit wiring
- •Poor ground connection
- •Low engine oil level or genuinely low oil pressure
- •Failed PCM/ECM (less common)
P0520 on Chevrolet by Model
Chevrolet Silverado 1500(1 issue)
- Oil Pressure Sending Unit Failure (Erratic, Pegged, or Zero Oil Pressure Gauge)2003-2010
The engine oil pressure sensor/sending unit on LS truck V8s commonly fails or gets its screen clogged with sludge, sending the dash gauge bouncing, pegging high, dropping to zero, or reading falsely low—often with an 'oil pressure' warning even though actual pressure is fine. GM added a screen around the sensor mid-2007 that made the debris problem worse. A leading, cheap-to-fix false-alarm complaint that scares owners into thinking the pump failed.
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View P0520 across all makes →Frequently Asked Questions
What does P0520 mean on Chevrolet?▼
P0520 stands for "Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit Malfunction." This code indicates a general electrical fault in the circuit for the engine oil pressure sensor or switch. The computer monitors this circuit to know your oil pressure, and it has detected a signal that is missing, shorted, or otherwise out of the expected electrical range. This is typically a wiring or sensor problem rather than an actual loss of oil pressure, but because oil pressure is critical to engine life, it should never be ignored until confirmed. If oil pressure truly is low, serious engine damage can result. On Chevrolet specifically, this code is documented across 1 model.
What causes P0520 on Chevrolet vehicles?▼
Common causes on Chevrolet: Faulty oil pressure sensor or switch, Damaged, corroded, or loose wiring/connector at the sensor, Open or short in the sensor circuit wiring, Poor ground connection, Low engine oil level or genuinely low oil pressure. Specific causes vary by model and year — see the per-model sections below.
How much does it cost to fix P0520 on a Chevrolet?▼
Repair costs on Chevrolet range from $20 to $120, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Which Chevrolet models have P0520 documented?▼
Au7o has documented P0520 on 1 Chevrolet model: Silverado 1500.