What P06DC means
A switchable or variable oil pump saves fuel by lowering its output at part load; a solenoid valve sets the stage.
How the engine computer detects it
GM and Ford design it so the pump runs at full output, i.e. high pressure, when the valve is unpowered – the safe default – and at the low stage when powered. P06DC means the control wire is shorted to positive: the low-side driver can no longer pull it to ground, so the valve stays unpowered and the pump at high pressure – the safe state. GM checks this with the driver on and flags a short below 0.5 Ω after two trips. GM checks the low-side driver at 11 V or more relay voltage over 40 of 50 samples (100 ms); Ford's smart driver reports output faults after 5 s with the battery at 11 V or more. Apart from slightly higher consumption there are usually no symptoms. An open circuit is P06DA, a short to ground P06DB.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- Check engine light after two trips
- Usually no noticeable symptom, oil pressure permanently high
- Slightly higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Control wire shorted to positive Most likely
- Valve coil shorted (looks like a short to positive at the driver) Possible
- Engine module Less likely
How to diagnose P06DC
- Read every stored code with an OBD-II scanner. If misfire or fuel trim codes are there too, fix those first: they often cause this one.
- Inspect the parts involved: oil pump control valve, oil pump control circuit, engine control module.
- Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
- Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.
Reading the code
- P
- Powertrain
- 0
- Generic (SAE) code
- 6
- Computer and output circuits
- DC
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P06DC?
Check the oil level before driving. This code can be a faulty sensor or control circuit, but you can't rule out real low oil pressure from the code alone. If the oil pressure warning light comes on, the engine starts ticking or knocking, or the oil is low, don't drive: have it towed.
Will P06DC clear by itself?
The light can go off after several drive cycles without the fault, but the code returns if the cause is still there. After a repair, the readiness monitors need a full drive cycle before an inspection.
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.