Oil Light Warning Causes
Every driver knows that oil is vital to vehicle function and health, even if they don't understand why. Therefore, seeing the dashboard oil light illuminate may cause panic for some, leading them to exclaim, "Oh, it's lit!" If this happens to you, there's no need to panic. We'll walk you through some of the common causes of the oil warning. For all your oil change and repair needs, bring your vehicle to West Automotive Group in Kearny Mesa, California. In business since 1993, our ASE and ATRA certified technicians can find the source of your oil light trouble, getting you back on the road safely soon.
Oil’s Important Functions
Just in case you're wondering, we'll briefly explain why lubricant is so important to your car. Oil serves three extremely important functions in your engine. First, it lubricates the moving parts. This reduces the friction to a tolerable point. Otherwise, the metal components would quickly self-destruct as they moved against one another, generating friction. Also, oil grabs and suspends much of the dirt and debris that you don't want scratching and corroding your engine components. Finally, lubricant absorbs and removes quite a bit of the heat generated by friction. Therefore, your auto needs an adequate supply of fresh, clean motor oil. As oil ages (through both time and mileage), it can lose its protective properties. Broken down oil can actually combine with dirt to form sludge that causes additional engine problems.
A Short List of Oil Light Triggers
Perhaps you're wondering what can trigger your car's oil light. One obvious problem is a low oil level. Most modern models are equipped with a sensor to detect an insufficient level, prompting the light to warn you. If you haven't checked the level in a while, it's possible that your auto has simply used up the oil. If you have kept the lubricant monitored, it's also possible that your car has a leak. When you notice the light flashing on then going off when you apply brakes, the vehicle likely has less oil than it needs. The level remains high enough during steady driving, but braking causes it to slosh away from the sensor temporarily. The oil light may also indicate the need for an oil change. It may sense unclean oil that's beyond its prime. A bad oil pump or faulty sensor could also trigger a warning.
Your Local Oil Change Specialist
Regardless of the trigger, West Automotive Group can identify the cause of the oil light coming on. If you need routine maintenance services such as oil and filter change, we'll take care of that. Should you need a repair, we can help you with that, too.
