How to Deal with the Check Oil Light

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cars speedometer with check oil light on
No one wants to see the oil light turn on in their car

Oil is like the blood that your car needs to run… but you can change it for a new liquid… so I guess a bit different than blood. Ok, so maybe not the exact same as blood, but similar. If you don’t have any oil in your car it won’t work. If it runs low, you might be able to start it but could run into issues, and these are big issues. You really don’t want to run with low, or old, oil as it comes with pretty big risks that just aren’t worth what fresh oil costs.

This is why checking your oil is one of the most important things you can do for your car. It’s also pretty easy to do, and only takes a few minutes. But what do you do if the check oil light comes on? We’ve done a full guide on how to check your oil, what to do if your check oil light comes on, what causes the light to come on and how to fix it.

The check oil light is an important indicator of your engine’s health.

Maintaining an engine correctly is, what we think, is the most important thing you can do to ensure its optimal performance. One of the simplest but most critical indicators of the health of your engine is the check oil light. Upon start-up, this light typically turns off, and remains off, until there’s a problem with oil level or quality. As crucial as it is for gasoline to power a car, it’s just as necessary for oil to lubricate it. Without enough oil or old/dirty oil, the check oil light will appear and should be addressed immediately.

There are automated sensors in most, newer, engines that can detect if the oil tank has enough oil to work correctly. Don’t freak out if the light happens to turn on you should probably check your oil level right away. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that there are a lot of oil change places in most cities.

If you don’t check it you might be ignoring a warning sign that something isn’t right in the engine and you could suffer significant damage and shortened engine lifespan over time. Therefore, ensuring an adequate supply of high-quality oil is key to keeping your engine running strong. Be sure to periodically inspect your vehicle’s levels and change/top-up when needed to keep your vehicle functioning properly over time.

If the light comes on, you should check your oil level and add more if needed.

You can choose to ignore some things in life, but the check oil light isn’t generally one of them. Once the symbol lights up, it’s best to check your oil level and add more oil if necessary. The engine cannot run without a sufficient amount of lubricant—and in some cases, continued driving without enough oil can lead to irreparable damage. ( This is something you really don’t want, as it will cost a lot more and take more time to fix than topping your oil up.)

checking the oil level in a car
Oil level indicator

To avoid this risk, it is best to stop your car and take a closer look at the oil dipstick to make sure that the level is above the minimum threshold. If it isn’t, then you should immediately add fresh motor oil until the proper level is reached. There are dot’s on the dipstick that you can use as a guide, and if you’re confuses you can check your vehicle’s manual for specific instructions on how much you need.

The last thing to keep in mind when checking out your oil is that you should always take note of other warning signs such as discolored or foul-smelling fluids with sediment present—these also indicate that an issue may exist and should be addressed sooner rather than later by a professional mechanic.

By following these easy-to-take steps for watching your car’s oil levels and quality, you will hopefully be able to avoid issues that could’ve been prevented.

Why should you keep your oil clean and filled to the right level?

Keeping a car running for years takes effort, but it’s worth the investment in time and energy. Regular maintenance should be a priority – oil changes and tune-ups should never go neglected, as they are very important aspects to keeping your engine in good condition. If you can prevent an issue from happening, you will save yourself money and time… which are two things no one likes to waste, right?

By checking the filter, battery, and other mechanical system parts periodically, you can keep an eye on common areas that could cause you issues in the future. These checks don’t take much time so every month just give them a quick lookover and it could prevent big issues from occurring.

And it doesn’t take much effort to clean out cobwebs or vacuum the carpeting inside the car regularly. With these simple tips and tricks, you can ensure your car remains reliable and safe on the road for many years to come. The effort is instantly reimbursed when your car lasts longer than expected!

Is there such a thing as too much oil?

Well we are very glad you asked this, well I guess you didn’t ask this but we thought you might, because we wondered this too. Yes there is a such a thing as too much oil. This is where those dots on the dipstick come in handy. The top bump is the highest level that the oil should be at.

But why you might be asking, you said that oil is like blood for the car. Well, we regret that as again it doesn’t make much sense anymore so we take it back. But if you have too much oil it can blow seals in your car as it just isn’t made to have that much oil.

The only time you would encounter this is if you are adding oil to your own car, or doing your oil change. Eitehr way, it is important to check the levels before you take your car out, because blown seals will also cost you money to fix. So too little oil = NOT GOOD, too much oil = ALSO NOT GOOD.

Conclusion

The check oil light is an important indicator of your engine’s health. If the light comes on, you should immediately check your oil level and add more if necessary. This isn’t a light to ignore like oh I will check it next week when I clean my room.

If you have no idea how to check it you should check online as there are lots of videos out there or you can also bring your car to a qualified mechanic to have it checked and serviced. Ignoring the check oil light can lead to serious engine damage, so make sure you don’t ignore this light.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the check oil light mean?

The check oil light is an important light on your car’s dashboard. It means that there is a problem with the oil levels in your engine.

Why is it important to check my oil level?

It is important to check your car’s oil level to ensure there’s enough oil in the engine. If there isn’t enough oil, the engine can be damaged, so you should add some to the required level.

How do I check my oil level?

The best way to check your car’s oil level is to find the dipstick and pull it out. The dipstick will have markings that show you the level of oil in the engine. If the oil markings is below the lowest bump you need to add more oil.

What do I do if my check oil light is on?

If your car’s check oil light is on, it means that there is a problem with the oil levels in your engine. You should add more oil if the markings on the dipstick are not between the two minimum lines.

If you’re unsure how to do this, take your car to a qualified mechanic for assistance.

How often should I check my oil level?

It’s a good idea to check your car’s oil level at least once a month. This will help ensure that there is enough oil in the engine and that it is in good condition. If you notice a low level, add more oil as soon as possible.

What are the consequences of not checking my oil level?

If you don’t check your car’s oil level regularly, it can lead to some pretty bad problems.

The engine can be damaged if there isn’t enough oil, leading to big/expensive repairs. That’s why its pretty important to make sure that you check the oil level regularly and add more oil if necessary.

What are the consequences of driving with the check oil light on?

If you drive with the check oil light on, it means that there is a problem with the oil levels in your engine. The engine can be damaged if there isn’t enough oil, so again just not a good plan or idea.