Engine oil is one of the most important fluids that is needed to maintain a car. Engine oil acts as a lubricant for the engine and keeps it cool. It also contributes by cleaning the engine. Today, we are going to discuss what changing engine oil soon means.
What does it mean when your car says change engine oil soon?
When the engine oil of a car has become old and served its expected time, the change engine oil soon light comes on. Engine oil is an important fluid when it comes to lubrication and cleaning of the engine. Engine oil needs to be changed after every five thousand to six thousand miles.
When your car says change engine oil soon, it could mean a lot of things. First of all, the service time given by your engine oil might be over and it needs to be changed soon with new oil.
Another reason is your engine oil might have become dirty and needs changing.
If a change engine oil light comes on earlier than expected, it might also indicate a leakage of engine oil. Whatever the reason is, you should get your car checked by a mechanic when the change engine oil light comes on at an unexpected time.
You can change the engine oil yourself too. Engine oil is known for giving service up to five to six thousand miles at the very most. After that mileage period, the engine oil needs to be changed with new oil.
Why does change engine oil light come on?
There can be several reasons behind the change oil light coming on. Let’s discuss in detail some of them.
Dirty engine oil:
When your engine oil becomes polluted and dirty, then a change oil light might come on. The engine oil going through several parts of the engine can pick up dirt, dust, and grease on its way.
When the engine oil becomes too dirty, the change engine oil signals you to replace the polluted and dirty oil with new oil by coming on.
Low level of engine oil:
Usually, engine oil gives service for up to five thousand to six thousand miles. When your engine oil is about to run out, the change engine light comes on to let you know about that. At that moment, you should change your engine oil with new oil.
Leakage:
Sometimes faulty engine oil filter, filler cap, and gasket can cause leakage and this can make your engine oil run out earlier than expected.
When your engine oil starts leaking, the change engine oil light comes on sooner. You should get your car checked by a mechanic when it starts leaking engine oil.
Faulty engine oil pressure sensor:
The oil pressure sensor can go bad or faulty for several reasons. A faulty oil pressure sensor can send inaccurate signals to the engine control unit which makes the change engine oil light come on without proper cause.
Faulty engine oil pump:
A faulty engine oil pump is not able to send adequate engine oil to all the parts of the engine. This makes the change engine oil light come on as a consequence. A faulty engine oil pump should be repaired or replaced immediately.
What happens if you do not change engine oil?
There can be some serious consequences if you do not change engine oil after it has given its projected service. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Damages engine parts:
The primary responsibility of engine oil is to work as a lubricant on different moving parts of the engine. Engine oil’s lubrication ability decreases the amount of friction inside the engine.
If you do not change engine oil after the given time, the pistons and valves of the engine will get damaged for lack of lubrication.
Increases the engine temperature:
Engine oil is responsible for cooling down your engine as it can go to almost all the parts of your engine. The coolant system of the car is not flexible like the engine oil. If you do not change the engine oil in time, the car engine will start heating up.
Old and worn-out engine oil is not able to keep the engine cool.
A rise in fuel cost:
If you do not change engine oil in time, the old engine oil turns into gel-like material.
With this gel-like material running through it, the engine is not able to produce optimum performance and requires more fuel than before which will increase the fuel cost of your car.
Dirty engine:
Engine oil is known for working as a cleaning component inside the engine. It is responsible for getting rid of debris and dirt.
An out of date, engine oil is not able to clean the engine properly which leaves a heap of dirt and debris inside. This decreases the ability of the engine noticeably.
Is it safe to drive with a change engine oil soon light on?
It is not safe to drive with a change engine oil soon light on if we consider the long-term consequences. Engine oil gives service for fifty thousand to sixty miles usually. After that, the engine oil becomes dirty and inadequate.
If you delay changing engine oil, the moving parts of your engine will be most affected. Keeping this in mind, you should change your engine oil as soon as the change engine oil soon light comes on.
How long can I drive with a change engine oil soon?
You can not drive with a change engine oil soon for long. Old and dirty engine oil will increase friction inside the engine and affect the moving parts. The old and dirty engine oil is also not able to clean your engine properly making your engine full of dirt and debris.
You can drive around with a change engine oil soon light for a bit, but you should not keep doing it for a long time.
How often should you change engine oil?
It is recommended by experts to change engine oil every five thousand to six thousand miles. Some high-performance cars can even go seven thousand miles without needing a change of engine oil.
But you might need to change your engine oil sooner than expected for various reasons due to oil leakage, faulty oil pressure sensor, and oil pump. If your change engine oil light turns on sooner than expected, you should get your car checked by a mechanic.
Can you change engine oil yourself?
You can change the engine oil of your car yourself when the change engine oil light comes on. You will need a new oil filter, a bottle of new engine oil, and a few wrenches to change engine oil. You can start by removing the oil plug and the old oil filter.
Next, you will have to add the new engine oil into the engine with the help of a funnel. You can also recycle the old engine oil for other uses.
How much does changing your engine oil cost?
Changing engine oil does not cost that much. Getting it done by a professional can increase the cost slightly because of labor costs. But parts needed for changing engine oil and the price of oil will bring the total cost somewhere between thirty to sixty USD.
How to reset the oil change light on a car?
Resetting the oil change light on a car after you have changed the oil involves several steps. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Search gauge and dashboard area:
First of all, you will have to go through the gauge and dashboard area of your car to find the reset button. The ignition should be turned on without starting the engine.
Alter Odometer function:
Next, you will have to go through the various modes of odometer in order to find the total mileage mode. At this point, you will need to turn the ignition off.
Press the reset button:
After that, you will have to press the reset button and hold it for some time. You will need to turn on the ignition simultaneously. The change engine oil light will start blinking to the on and off position when this happens.
After the change engine oil light has blinked a few times, you will need to stop pressing the reset button. The ignition button will need to be turned off at this point.
Examine the procedure:
To find out if the procedure has been successful, you will need to start your car engine. If the change engine oil light still comes on, you will need to repeat the above-mentioned procedure.
Final Thoughts
Change engine oil soon usually works as an indicator to the car owner. When the car says change engine oil soon, the car owner needs to change the old engine oil with new engine oil immediately. Driving with old engine oil can damage the moving parts of the engine severely.
I am an automotive enthusiast and have been interested in cars since I was a little kid. I have worked in the automotive industry for many years and have extensive knowledge of vehicles and their engines. I am a father of two and I love spending time with my family.
Read more about the author here.