What Causes the Engine Warning Light to Illuminate After an Oil Change?
2 Answers
Reasons for the engine warning light illuminating after an oil change: 1. The computer is performing a self-check. It is recommended to restart the vehicle to see if the light turns off. If it remains illuminated, the oil pressure sensor may be damaged and require replacement; 2. Issues with the oil itself, such as low lubricant viscosity, poor sealing and lubrication in the oil circuit, excessive viscosity of overly cold lubricant, or excessive sludge deposits in the lubricant causing abnormal oil pressure gauge readings. It is advised to have the vehicle inspected at a 4S shop. Common causes for the engine warning light to illuminate include: poor combustion conditions, engine knocking, poor fuel quality, dirty engine cylinders, and accumulated carbon deposits.
I also encountered the check engine light coming on after changing the oil myself recently, which was quite frustrating. Possible causes include the oil filler cap not being tightened properly, leading to minor leakage and triggering the alarm when the oil pressure sensor detects low levels. Alternatively, the newly replaced oil filter might not be installed correctly, with misaligned seals causing oil leaks or blockages in the oil passage. Loose sensor wiring accidentally bumped by workers during maintenance could also falsely trigger fault codes. I recommend immediately stopping to check the oil dipstick to see if the oil level is adequate. If it's below the standard, try topping it up with the same type of oil. If the light remains on, use an OBD tool to read the code and confirm the specific issue—often, it's just a minor oversight. Preventive measures include double-checking key components after each maintenance to avoid travel delays or engine damage.
