Will the car fail to start without engine oil?
3 Answers
It can start, but cannot be driven. The following is relevant information about engine oil: Introduction: Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant, with a density of approximately 0.91×10³ (kg/m³), serves to lubricate and reduce friction in the engine, assist in cooling, provide sealing to prevent leaks, prevent rust and corrosion, and act as a shock absorber. It is hailed as the "blood" of the car. Engine oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of the lubricant, determining its basic properties, while additives compensate for and improve the shortcomings of the base oil, endowing it with certain new properties, making it an important component of the lubricant. Classification: Engine oils on the market can be simply divided into mineral oil and synthetic oil based on their base oil.
As an experienced auto mechanic, I'd like to share my thoughts on this. Low engine oil won't directly prevent the car from starting, since the ignition system relies on the battery and spark plugs. But if you're low on oil and still force-start the engine, that's when real trouble begins! The metal components inside will grind against each other without proper lubrication, potentially causing cylinder scoring or bearing seizure within minutes. Last year at our shop, we had a stubborn customer who insisted on starting his car despite having no oil left - the engine was completely ruined, costing over 20,000 yuan to repair. So when that oil warning light comes on, shut off the engine immediately. Don't gamble with your engine's health.
Last week, I didn't even realize my car had run out of engine oil. It started right up with just one crank, which scared me so much that I immediately turned it off. The mechanic said this is perfectly normal because ignition is the electrical system's job. But the problem is there's no lubrication inside the engine after startup - metal parts grinding against each other, and the oil warning light is basically screaming 'STOP'. My neighbor learned this the hard way - drove just 3 kilometers with low oil and ended up with a seized engine, costing over half a year's salary to fix. So never assume it's okay to keep driving just because the engine starts - call a tow truck when you need to.
