How To Bypass Low Oil Sensor On a Generator? – Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Last Updated on September 4, 2024

While a low oil sensor was made for the best of reasons and intentions, there are times when it just simply gets in the way and needs to be taken out of the equation so you can properly use your generator. Thankfully, there is a quick, easy, and safe solution for the hassles that low oil sensors create.

What is a low oil sensor? Essentially, many households’ common appliances are built with handy safety switches and sensors. You can understand why these are needed, especially for items such as generators which carry a lot of power and need to be handled with great care.

A low oil sensor built into a generator prevents users from running the machine with too much oil. Too much oil in a generator can spell certain disasters. It can permanently damage the generator or, worse, lead to an accident that could hurt the people using it.

By the sounds of it, it seems that low oil sensors are needed. The truth is that they are. However, sometimes you’ll want to bypass the low oil sensor. There are plenty of reasons why people think they need to bypass the low oil sensor. The most important thing to remember is that if you are choosing to do this, you need to be incredibly careful.

As stated, these low oil sensors are there for a reason. If you are turning them off, you need to then do the hard work of being even more vigilant about staying safe.

How to Bypass Low Oil Sensor on Generator?

It is important to remember that bypassing a low oil sensor on a generator is a temporary fix. It is not something that will last forever and you need to keep that in mind. In fact, it’s something that really shouldn’t last forever. But if you need the temporary bypass, it is easy to acquire.

Step 1-

The first step is to locate the yellow wire on your generator. It doesn’t matter which brand you are working with, the wire will always be yellow no matter what. You can usually find this pivotal wire in the crankcase near the oil fill cap, beneath the panel there.

Step 2 –

After that, you should find a green wire connector on the yellow wire. On some brands, the color of this connector might be different. Pull it apart to disconnect it from the wiring.

Step 3 –

Following that, turn on your generator and let it run for at least ten to fifteen minutes. This will allow the sensors to become unstuck from the bottom of the engine. After that time has passed, it is vital that you reconnect the low oil sensor that you just pulled apart.

Remember, the sensor is there for a reason and needs to be working for the next time you fire up a generator. Bypassing the low oil sensor is just a simple, short, temporary solution.

What Causes Low Oil Pressure?

You might be asking yourself why the low oil sensor is going off in the first place. How do you avoid it going off and getting in your way again and again? There are many reasons why you could be experiencing low oil in your generator. While machine failure and lubricant starvation might be the causes, there are other things that could be behind it.

1. Not enough oil

Perhaps there is not enough oil in the generator. To fix this, you should simply add more and see if the generator responds favorably. However, if it doesn’t you might find out that there is a leak in your generator and that is why you are losing oil quickly. If that is the case, your generator will need to be repaired before it will work fully.

2. Defective gauge

There is a chance that the oil pressure gauge is defective and that is what is causing the low oil sensor to go off. Check the oil levels for yourself and see if they are safe. If they are and your oil sensor is still going off, there is a chance that the gauge itself is off and isn’t reading the oil pressure accurately. If that is the case, you can simply buy a new sensor and replace it on your generator.

3. Clogged filter

Oil issues can also be caused by a generator that has a clogged filter. If your filter becomes filled with contaminates, the bypass valve might not work properly. This will lead to lubricant starvation and that can be a very serious problem for your generator.

4. Wear and tear

Of course, another reason that your low oil sensor might be going off a lot is because the actual generator itself is experiencing normal and predictable wear and tear. How old is the generator you’re using? How much have you been using it? There is a chance that maybe the generator has just run its course and is reaching the end of its life cycle.

Is there much you can do about that? Sometimes. There is a chance that you can get it repaired and enhanced. Plenty of repair shops can make your generator work like new again.

However, you might want to just buy a new generator if the one you are using is continually malfunctioning and not working correctly. If the low oil sensor continually goes off, even when the oil levels are okay, there is a good chance that your generator is starting to fail.

Conclusion

A generator is a wonderful accessory to any home. You can use it to power any number of items or equipment. However, there are some things that get in the way of you using your generator to its full potential. One of those things is a low-oil sensor.

While created for the right reasons and generally a very helpful tool, it can sometimes become more of a headache than anything.

If you need to bypass the low oil sensor on your generator, the steps are easy to follow. It is just very important that you remember bypassing it is a temporary fix, not one that you want to employ for a long time.

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