Engine oil level warning lamp: why does it light up and how to fix it?

The engine oil indicator warns of a problem with the oil level or pressure, which is a serious malfunction. You must then stop quickly to top up engine oil or perform emptying... If you do not, you risk serious injury. engine.

🚗 What if the engine oil light comes on?

Depending on the car model, your engine oil sight glass red or orange, but has the same symbol for oil can... When it lights up, it is a warning. A yellow engine oil warning light usually indicates low oil level.

On the other hand, a red engine oil indicator is often a sign of a malfunction. oil pressure not important enough. Like all red indicators on the dashboard, this indicator indicates an urgent problem. You must stop as quickly as possible, otherwise you risk damaging the engine.

Then you need:

• Wait a few minutes for the engine compartment and oil to cool;
• Open the engine hood, remove the dipstick, wipe it with a rag and check the oil level;
• Top up the level if it is below the lower mark;
• Lower the dipstick back into the reservoir and check that the level is between the (min./max.) Marks.

If your level is between these two marks and the lights go out, you can start over. If not, add oil. If the light does not go off, it is most likely a pressure problem: if it is too low, oil is not circulating properly in the engine. Go to the garage.

Good to know : When you top up the level, the engine oil you are adding must be the same type as the one you already have. If you want to change the type of oil, especially for winter use, do engine oil change to avoid mixing, which is not recommended.

🔍 Why is the engine oil light on?

There are many reasons the engine oil warning light may sound. This usually indicates a problem with oil pressure in the first place, but on some vehicles, the engine sight glass may also indicate that the fluid level is too low.

There are three main causes of a burning engine oil light bulb and low oil pressure:

• Malfunction of the oil pump : Responsible for supplying oil to the engine circuit, the oil pump may fail. An oil change is necessary, you need to go to the garage as soon as possible.
• Faulty pressure sensors They are responsible for informing you of the oil pressure level that must be sufficient for the engine to function properly. If they are defective, they can cause overflow or lack of oil. There is no other way out but to walk through the garage box to change the faulty elements.
• Oil leak : The origins are numerous because it can come from your tank, from a hose, from a filter, from gaskets, or more seriously, from a cylinder head gasket. To detect oil leak, You may notice a puddle under the car, a seepage in the engine compartment, or a strong smell or even abnormal smoke after the engine oil burns out.

Apart from an engine oil leak, it is almost impossible for a newbie to detect the other two malfunctions. This is why you need to go to a mechanic. Don't wait: engine oil is essential to lubricate your engine and its components.

Without it, you risk, at best, damaging engine parts, and at worst, breaking the engine altogether. In this case, the bill can be large and even exceed the value of the vehicle if it is several years old.

If the engine oil light comes on, don't wait before heading to the garage. You must stop the car immediately: it is very dangerous for your car to continue driving with the engine oil warning light on. Go through Vroomly to get your car repaired at the best price!