Say you’re on a road trip, and a message pops up on your dashboard “Engine oil low – add oil.”
What does it mean, and what should you do to resolve it?
Let’s answer your burning question right away.
What Does the “Engine Oil Low – Add Oil” Message Mean?
This message means that the engine oil in your vehicle’s engine is too low. You can get rid of it by adding more oil.
How To Resolve “Engine Oil Low – Add Oil”?
Typically, you can resolve this error by adding more oil. You can follow the following steps to do that:
- Stop your car.
- Let the engine cool for 10 to 15 mins.
- Check the engine oil level with the engine oil dipstick to see how much engine oil you need to add.
- Add new engine oil.
- Check the engine oil level again to ensure you’ve added enough engine oil.
Once that’s done, the “Engine Oil Low – Add Oil” message should no longer display across your dashboard.
You may need to reset the message if it doesn’t go away.
How To Reset the “Engine Oil Low – Add Oil” Message?
Different vehicles have different methods to reset the “Engine oil low add oil” message. You should check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find the exact directions for resetting this message in your car.
However, most of the vehicles follow these steps to reset the message.
- Start the vehicle by turning the key to the position where the battery gets switched on — your dashboard lights will turn on.
- When the message appears on the dashboard, press the enter button for a second.
- Remove the keys after getting the notification from the dashboard.
And the lights will be reset.
If the message appears even after you’ve added the required engine oil and reset the message, there’s some other issue.
False “Engine Oil Low – Add Oil” Message: Troubleshooting
Here are the possible reasons why you may get a false message:
Malfunctioning Sensor
Low oil levels trigger the sensor to show this message. If the sensor returns a false reading even with a high engine oil level, you may have a faulty sensor. Replace the sensor to fix this issue.
Incorrect Message Reset
In some vehicles, this message is reset automatically. In others, it doesn’t, and you’ve to reset it manually. And different car companies have different methods of doing so.
Check the owner’s manual of your car and ensure you follow the steps given in that manual to reset the message. Following a generic method for resetting the message won’t work.
Loose Wire of Sensor
A loose wire in the back of the sensor could cause a short circuit. That might display a false alarm.
So, if you’ve got your oil levels topped up and still see this message, you might need to check your vehicle’s sensor’s wiring.
Which Other Engine Oil Warning Lights Should You Know Of?
Knowing what different engine oil warning lights mean is critical.
Low Oil Pressure Light
Typically, manufacturers use these symbols for low oil pressure or low oil levels.
If the light is yellow, you don’t have to take immediate action. But if the light turns red, you should immediately check oil levels and troubleshoot.
Oil Change Light
The ”Oil Change Due” message pops up on your engine control unit (ECU) when you cross the distance threshold for an oil change.
If you see it, change your engine oil.
Oil Temperature Indicator
Some vehicles come with an oil temperature indicator light. If this pops up across your dashboard, pull the car over and shut down the engine to let it cool.
That’s it.
For more engine-oil-related queries, explore our blog.
