What Does It Mean When My Oil Light Symbol Is Lit?
Courtesy Acura is happy to help you know what it means when your Acura oil light symbol is lit.
It can be nerve-wracking when the oil light illuminates in your dashboard. Oil is absolutely imperative for a car’s engine, and a lack of it can have catastrophic consequences. Before you get too worried, ascertain which oil light is illuminated, do a few quick checks to see maybe why it’s on, and then decide the next steps. However, if the oil light turns on and your engine starts ticking, you need to pull over as soon as you can. A ticking engine combined with the oil light means that it is damaging itself, and driving it could ruin your engine.
The Car Is Leaking Oil
If an engine is low on oil, that can set off the oil light. Some of the more common reasons for leaking oil are:
- Oil filter replaced incorrectly
- Oil pan drain plug not sealed correctly
- Engine gaskets have deteriorated
- Broken oil filler cap
Even if you are not a mechanic, you can check under the hood for oil leaks. The engine is going to be covered in dirt, but you can spot a potential oil leak if you see wet, greasy spots around the engine. Adding some oil between routine oil changes can be a band-aid fix, but it could still eventually lead to low oil pressure if it is not taken care of and cause engine damage.
Is It Just The Oil Change Light, Or Is It Only The Oil Warning Light
The first thing to figure out regarding the oil light is to make sure it’s not just a maintenance reminder. A maintenance reminder may have the same warning lights and alarm, depending on your car. If you’ve put off your recent oil change, it may even say ‘Change Oil Now’ and can look ominous. It’s not quite as bad as the oil light but needs to be taken care of, so let us handle that.
What Happens If My Car Has Low Oil Pressure?
Low oil pressure means not all internal components of the engine are not being fully lubricated. An engine that is not properly lubricated will be damaged and eventually cause total failure. If you have confirmed the engine has the correct amount of oil, then the oil warning light could be from the oil pump, a sensor, or even just low oil pressure. Your vehicle should get immediately inspected by our technicians in these kinds of circumstances. Running an engine on low oil pressure will likely cause total engine failure.
Schedule Service for an Acura Near Denver
Courtesy Acura is your ideal destination for all your auto service needs near Denver. Our friendly staff is ready to get you and your vehicle back on the road safely, no matter its make or model. Schedule your next auto service with us in person or online.
