What does the car's prompt to change engine oil immediately mean?
2 Answers
Car's prompt to change engine oil immediately is a reminder for the owner to replenish the engine oil as soon as possible and perform maintenance on the car to avoid damage to the engine due to insufficient oil. When the engine oil level is low, it can lead to a reduction in the oil pump's output or the inability to pump oil, causing the car to light up the low oil pressure warning light, with the dashboard displaying a prompt to change the oil immediately. During the operation of the car engine, engine oil plays roles such as lubrication, sealing, and cooling, reducing friction losses and extending the engine's service life. Cars are equipped with an oil dipstick to measure the remaining amount of engine oil. The dipstick has two marking lines, H (High) and L (Low). When the oil level falls below the lower marking line L, the car will trigger a warning light, indicating that the owner needs to change the engine oil.
This alert is as straightforward as your phone's low battery notification! It means the vehicle's onboard computer has detected that the engine oil needs changing. It could be simply based on the mileage-triggered maintenance cycle, or the sensors may have detected decreased oil viscosity or excessive contaminants. I encountered this before a long trip and consulted a veteran technician at the dealership. He said, 'Don’t underestimate this little yellow light—delaying an oil change is the most damaging thing for an engine. It’s like thickened blood in your veins: piston friction increases, carbon buildup surges, and in severe cases, it can even cause cylinder scoring.' I recommend first checking your maintenance manual to confirm the replacement interval, which varies between 5,000 to 10,000 km depending on the model. Here’s a handy tip: Turn off the engine, wait 5 minutes, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it, and check again. If the oil level is below the minimum mark or the color resembles soy sauce, it’s time for a change.
