Why does the car prompt for an oil change?
2 Answers
The reason the car prompts for an oil change is: insufficient oil level, indicating it's time to change the oil. When the oil level is too low, the oil pump's pumping capacity decreases or fails to pump oil due to air intake, leading to a drop in oil pressure. Another possible reason is the use of inappropriate oil. If the wrong type or grade of oil is used, the engine may experience increased leakage due to the oil's low viscosity, resulting in reduced oil pressure. Method to clear the oil change prompt: Press and hold the minute button next to the instrument panel to reset it. Below is related information: 1. Engine oil serves functions such as lubrication and friction reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing and leak prevention, rust and corrosion protection, and shock absorption, all of which protect the engine. 2. Engine oil, or engine lubricant, is a substance enhanced with additives in a base oil, primarily containing anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, and multi-grade viscosity index improvers. 3. The main functions of engine oil are to reduce friction and wear of moving parts and to remove sludge (one of the functions of dispersants) and varnish (function of detergents) from the engine.
The oil indicator light coming on simply means it's time for an oil change. I've encountered this multiple times since I started driving, and the main reasons fall into these categories: First, mileage-based reminders with preset thresholds, like every 5,000 kilometers; second, aged or degraded oil where the lubrication performance has dropped below the level needed to protect engine components; third, extreme driving conditions such as frequent short trips or hot weather accelerating oil oxidation. As an experienced car owner, my advice is not to ignore it—check the oil dipstick level immediately. If it's alarmingly low or shows signs of leakage, top up before changing; otherwise, prolonged delay worsens engine wear, leading to costly repairs. Develop a routine of checking oil quality every six months or quarterly—act if it appears cloudy—and combine this with regular professional maintenance for optimal reliability.
