Sterling McCall Chevrolet welcomes you to discover why your Chevrolet oil light is illuminated.
It can be a little scary when the oil warning light illuminates in your dash. Engines need oil, and a lack of oil can have destructive consequences. Before you get too worried, ascertain which oil light is on, do a few easy checks to see maybe why it’s on, and then figure out your next steps. However, if your engine starts making a ticking sound when the light comes on, then you need to pull over as soon as it is safe to do so. An oil light combined with a ticking engine could mean that it is damaging itself, and continuing to drive it in this condition could ruin your engine.
Your first step to figure out regarding the oil light is to make sure it is not just a scheduled maintenance reminder. Depending on your car, a maintenance reminder may have the same warning light and sounds. If you’ve put off your recent oil change, it might even say ‘Change Oil Now’ and look quite ominous. It’s not quite as bad as the oil light but should be taken care of, so let us do it.
If an engine is low on oil, that can trigger the oil light. Some of the more normal reasons for leaking oil are:
Even if you are not a mechanic, you can check under the hood for leaks. The engine is going to be covered in dirt, but you can spot a potential oil leak if you see greasy, wet spots. Adding the missing oil between regular oil changes can be a band-aid fix, but it can eventually cause low oil pressure if it’s not taken care of and cause damage.
Low oil pressure means internal components of the engine may not be lubricated correctly. Unlubricated engine parts will get damaged and can cause total failure. If you have confirmed the engine has the right oil levels, then the oil warning light could be from a sensor, the oil pump, or even just low oil pressure. Your car should get immediately inspected by our technicians in these kinds of circumstances. As stated earlier, running an engine on low oil pressure will likely cause damage.
Sterling McCall Chevrolet is one of the most trusted places for oil changes in the Houston area. We happily service all vehicle makes and models. One of our factory-trained technicians will inspect your vehicle for any necessary repairs and suggest the best resolution for you and your vehicle. Schedule your Houston service in person or online today.
