Oil Pressure Increase Fix
ECU software fix for dangerously low factory oil pressure on VW Group 3.0 TDI and PSA 2.0 HDi engines. Protect your engine before it's too late.
VAG Group 3.0 TDI and PSA 2.0 HDi engines use a PWM-controlled (electronically modulated) oil pressure regulating valve. From the factory, the ECU is programmed to run dangerously low oil pressure at idle and light loads — as low as 206.3 kPa at idle — to save fuel and reduce pump load. This is a well-documented cause of premature crankshaft bearing wear, camshaft damage, and turbocharger failure, especially in city driving and stop-start traffic. Many engines show serious internal wear as early as 60,000–70,000 miles due to this factory setting.
The Problem
The oil pressure regulating valve on these engines is electronically controlled by the ECU via a PWM signal. At idle and low loads, the ECU deliberately reduces oil pressure to save fuel and reduce the load on the oil pump. While this makes sense from an efficiency standpoint, the factory pressure targets are set too low — resulting in inadequate lubrication of critical engine components during the periods when the engine needs it most (cold starts, idle, low-speed city driving).
The consequences become apparent from around 60,000–70,000 miles: worn crankshaft bearings, scored camshaft lobes, and premature turbocharger bearing failure. Many owners face engine rebuilds or replacements that could have been avoided with this simple software fix.
Real Results — VCDS Live Data
Oil pressure setpoint measured at idle via VCDS Advanced Measuring Values
Factory setpoint at idle: 206.3 kPa — dangerously low, causing accelerated wear on crankshaft bearings and turbocharger.
After ECU modification: 262.0 kPa — significantly increased idle pressure providing proper lubrication and engine protection.
Compatible ECU Types
Compatible Vehicles
VW Group (3.0 TDI)
- • Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 (3.0 TDI)
- • Audi Q5, Q7 (3.0 TDI)
- • Volkswagen Touareg (3.0 TDI)
- • Porsche Cayenne Diesel
- • Bentley Bentayga Diesel
PSA Group (2.0 HDi / BlueHDi)
- • Peugeot 508, 3008, 5008
- • Citroën C5, C5 Aircross
- • DS 7 Crossback
- • Opel / Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI
- • Toyota ProAce (PSA engine)
Key Benefits
- Raises idle oil pressure from ~206 kPa to 262+ kPa
- Protects crankshaft bearings, camshaft, and turbocharger
- Prevents premature engine wear from 60–70k miles
- Particularly effective for city and stop-start driving
- No hardware modifications required
- Permanent ECU software fix
- Fully reversible — stock map can be restored
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Frequently Asked Questions
My car has 80,000 miles — is it too late for the fix?+
It's never too late to improve oil pressure. While some wear may have already occurred, increasing the oil pressure now will slow further deterioration significantly. Combined with a fresh oil change using the correct specification oil, this fix is still very worthwhile.
How do I know if my car has the low oil pressure problem?+
If your vehicle uses one of the compatible ECU types listed above, it almost certainly has the factory low oil pressure setting. You can verify by checking the oil pressure setpoint via VCDS or similar diagnostic software at idle.
Does this affect engine performance or fuel economy?+
There is no noticeable effect on performance or fuel economy. The oil pump load increase is minimal and the ECU compensates automatically.
Can this be combined with a performance remap?+
Yes — and we recommend it. A Stage 1 remap alongside the oil pressure fix gives you both better performance and better engine protection in a single visit.