How serious is this DTC?
The severity of this P253F code is moderate. Insufficient lubrication can cause permanent engine damage. Additionally, if the particulate filter is not in good condition, it can also generate this fault code, potentially worsening lubrication and engine performance issues.
What are some of the symptoms of the code?
Symptoms of a P253F fault code may include:
- Engine cannot start
- Abnormal oil pressure gauge reading
- Service engine light illuminates
- Check engine light is on
- Oil message appears on the instrument cluster
What are some common causes of the code?
Causes of this P253F code may include:
- Low engine oil level
- Poor quality oil
- Oil life monitor was not reset
- Faulty PCM strategy
- Defective or clogged particulate filter
What are the troubleshooting steps for P253F?
In the case of this code, the first thing to do would be to check the engine oil level and condition. If it doesn’t look new and clean, change it along with the oil filter.
If the oil looks new and fresh, the oil life monitor (OLM) may not have been reset during the last oil change. If this is the case, you may need to reset the OLM and clear this fault code.
If you receive this code and have new oil and filter, the oil life monitor is reset, and the particulate filter is in good condition, the vehicle’s PCM may need to be recalibrated. This is not a DIY-friendly task. Check service bulletins applicable to your year/make/model/engine before proceeding with any recalibration steps.
I hope the information in this article has helped guide you in the right direction to fix the issue with your degraded oil problem code. This article is strictly informational, and technical data and service bulletins specific to your vehicle should always take priority.