How long can you drive when the car displays 'change oil immediately'?
2 Answers
When the car displays 'change oil immediately,' you can typically drive for up to 50 kilometers. The functions of engine oil are: 1. To separate the surfaces of relatively sliding parts, thereby reducing wear; 2. To carry heat back to the oil tank and then dissipate it into the air, helping the radiator cool the engine; 3. To circulate carbon deposits, sludge, and worn metal particles from engine parts back to the oil tank, flushing away dirt generated on the working surfaces of parts through the flow of the lubricating oil. Signs that indicate the need for an oil change include: 1. Checking the oil viscosity—if there is no viscosity, the oil needs to be changed; 2. The oil color turns black; 3. Excessive black particles, metal shavings, or carbon deposits in the oil; 4. The oil has an unusual smell.
My car showed the same warning last time. The mechanic at the 4S shop said I could still drive 200-300 kilometers in an emergency, but they advised not to push it any further. That warning light is basically triggered by the computer based on the maintenance cycle, but the oil had already been used for five or six thousand kilometers. I drove to get it changed the next day, and the drained oil was as black as soy sauce. It’s even riskier on long highway trips—old oil provides poor lubrication, which can easily cause cylinder scoring, and repairing the engine could cost tens of thousands. The mechanic said driving short distances for a couple of days after the light comes on is manageable, but it’s best not to exceed 50 kilometers.
