Can You Still Drive When the Engine Oil Light Comes On?
2 Answers
The engine oil light indicates an alarm in the oil system. Although you can continue driving, it is strongly recommended to visit a 4S shop or repair station as soon as possible to identify the cause. If you encounter this situation, follow these steps: 1. Stop immediately and wait for about 5-10 minutes before carefully opening the engine hood. 2. Check the oil level. If it shows insufficient oil, you need to top it up. 3. After topping up, observe whether the oil light continues to alarm. If it turns off, it indicates the issue was caused by low oil level. Below are the reasons why the engine oil light may come on: 1. Insufficient oil level: If the oil level is too low, the oil pump's output decreases or fails to pump oil due to air intake, leading to a drop in oil pressure. This results in increased wear on the crankshaft and bearings, as well as the cylinder liner and piston due to poor lubrication. 2. Engine overheating: Excessive scale in the cooling system, poor heat dissipation, prolonged overloading, or delayed fuel injection timing can cause the engine to overheat. This accelerates oil aging, degradation, and thinning, leading to leakage through various gaps, pressure drop, and the illumination of the oil warning light. 3. Excessive oil viscosity: The viscosity of the oil is closely related to its quality. Higher viscosity provides better resistance to high temperatures, and vice versa.
Last time when my car's oil light came on, I took a chance and drove a few more kilometers to run some errands. As a result, the engine seized and started smoking right after I got off the highway. After sending it to the repair shop, they found that the pistons had even fused together due to overheating, costing me a hefty sum for a complete overhaul. From that lesson, I learned that you should never ignore the oil light—because when oil is low or pressure drops, the internal engine components can overheat from high-speed friction and quickly lead to total failure. Once the light comes on, the safest action is to pull over immediately without turning off the engine, shift to neutral, and check the dipstick. If the oil level is low, add spare oil if available, which might buy you some time but is not a long-term solution. It’s best to call a tow truck right away and have the car inspected by professionals to avoid further risks and bigger losses. Regular oil changes and maintenance can prevent such issues, ensuring your car stays healthy and your drives remain worry-free.
