Many cars have two very different messages about oil, and mixing them up can be costly. One is a friendly reminder. The other is an emergency.
The oil change reminder is usually a message on your dashboard screen or a small wrench symbol. It might say something like oil life low or maintenance required. That’s your car keeping track of time and miles and telling you it’s time to schedule an oil change soon. You can keep driving normally, just don’t put it off for months.
The oil pressure warning light is a red light shaped like an old-fashioned oil can with a drip coming out of the spout. This one is serious. It means the oil pressure in your engine has dropped too low, and the engine isn’t being lubricated properly.
If that red oil can light comes on while you’re driving, pull over somewhere safe as soon as you can and turn off the engine. Driving even a short distance without proper oil pressure can cause severe engine damage.
Once you’re safely stopped, you can check the oil level with the dipstick if you know how. If it’s very low, adding oil may help, but the car still needs to be checked, because oil doesn’t disappear on its own. The cause could be a leak, an engine burning oil, a failing oil pump or a faulty sensor.
If you’re not sure which light you’re looking at, it’s always safer to treat it as the emergency and call us. We can help you decide whether it’s safe to drive in or whether it should be towed.
Keeping your oil changed on schedule is the easiest way to avoid ever seeing that red light. Call Franklin Automotive at (615) 472-8052 or stop by 307 5th Ave N in downtown Franklin, Monday through Friday from 7 to 5.
