What does the car kettle symbol mean?
3 Answers
The car kettle symbol is the engine oil pressure warning light, which serves an alert function. Here are the reasons why the oil pressure warning light stays on: 1. Insufficient engine oil level, causing the lubrication system to have no or insufficient oil, resulting in low oil pressure. Solution: Add engine oil. 2. The oil is too dirty or viscous, preventing the oil pump from effectively drawing and pumping oil, leading to low or no oil pressure. Solution: Replace the engine oil. 3. Oil dilution or thinning due to high engine temperature causes oil leakage through engine friction gaps, resulting in low oil pressure. Solution: Change oil or repair the cooling system. 4. Oil pipe leakage, damaged oil pump, or excessively worn components reduce or eliminate oil intake and pumping, causing low or no oil pressure. Solution: Repair the engine. 5. Excessive clearance between the crankshaft and bearings leads to oil leakage and low oil pressure. Solution: Inspect the engine crankshaft.
After driving for so many years, I've encountered almost all common dashboard warning lights, including the teapot-shaped icon with water waves or oil drops, which is actually the engine oil warning light. This light typically indicates two situations: one is insufficient engine oil level, requiring immediate checking of the dipstick; the other is abnormal oil pressure, possibly due to issues with the oil pump or filter. Last time, my friend ignored this light and kept driving, resulting in severe engine damage and costly repairs amounting to several thousand. My advice is to pull over and turn off the engine immediately when you see this light. Wait for five minutes before checking the oil level. If the oil level is normal, then it's best to call for a tow truck. Also, during summer long-distance drives, pay attention to the tire temperature monitoring symbol, as high temperatures significantly affect engine oil.
Last time during maintenance, the mechanic mentioned that when the water kettle symbol lights up, it's almost always an oil-related issue. Although the icon looks like a teapot, it's actually a warning for insufficient oil pressure. It could be due to low oil levels or a blocked oil passage causing pressure to drop. Our fleet had an old Passat that frequently had this light on, and it turned out to be a leaking oil pan gasket due to aging. When checking, first look for oil stains on the ground, then pull out the dipstick to confirm the oil level. If the light comes on for a few seconds during cold starts and then turns off, that's normal. However, if it stays on or flashes continuously, it must be taken seriously. By the way, this light is often confused with the coolant symbol, which is usually a red thermometer icon.
