What are the effects if the maintenance light stays on?
4 Answers
The maintenance light staying on has no impact; it simply serves as a reminder that the vehicle is due for maintenance. Below is a detailed introduction about it: 1. Minor maintenance: Generally refers to the routine maintenance items performed after the vehicle has traveled a certain distance, as specified by the manufacturer in terms of time or mileage, to ensure vehicle performance. This mainly includes changing the engine oil and oil filter. 2. Time interval: The interval for minor maintenance depends on the effective time or mileage of the engine oil and oil filter used. The validity periods of mineral oil, semi-synthetic oil, and fully synthetic oil vary among different brands and grades. Please follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
The biggest risk of ignoring the maintenance warning light is missing the actual service interval. I once neglected it and ended up driving 8,000 km before realizing the engine oil needed changing - when I opened the oil cap, it had turned chocolate brown! Prolonged neglect like this will definitely lead to premature engine failure. Essentially, this light is your car's computer reminding you to change the oil and filter. Ignoring it not only causes gradual fuel consumption increases but also allows carbon deposits to accumulate. Worse yet, if your vehicle is still under warranty, dealerships may deny warranty claims citing missed maintenance. My advice: schedule service as soon as the light comes on - don't wait until the engine starts making strange noises to regret it.
This maintenance indicator light staying on won't directly damage the car, but it's as dangerous as hitting snooze on your alarm clock without getting up. My neighbor's car was like this - the light stayed on for six months without attention, and it eventually cost over 8,000 yuan for an engine overhaul. The biggest issue is that it masks the true condition of the vehicle. You might already be using degraded oil beyond its service life, causing insufficient lubrication and accelerated wear. Long-term failure to reset it can also interfere with your judgment of the next maintenance cycle. Some vehicle models' onboard computers might even refuse to display other important fault codes because of this. Regular maintenance costs are actually much cheaper than repair bills.
Driving with the maintenance light on won't cause immediate breakdown, but it's equivalent to chronic suicide. I've experienced it firsthand—last time after maintenance, the mechanic forgot to reset the indicator, and driving for a month left me feeling uneasy. The main harm is that it makes you uncertain about whether maintenance is actually needed, potentially leading you to push beyond the standard mileage. Failing to change the oil promptly can cause sludge to clog oil passages, accelerate piston ring wear, and worsen exhaust emissions. What's more frustrating is that during used car transactions, buyers seeing a constantly lit maintenance light may suspect you're someone who doesn't take care of the vehicle.
