Car's Oil Light Flashing: What It Means And How To React

If your car's dashboard shows the oil light flashing, this can be alarming. In some cases, this is warranted, such as when it indicates that your engine is overheating. In most cases, however, a flashing oil light simply means that you need to visit a mechanic for a:

• Pressure gauge or oil pump replacement
• New filter or a filter cleaning
• Top-up of oil or fully replacing old, worn-out oil

In these more benign cases, you don't have to stop driving the vehicle or pull over immediately. You should simply visit your local mechanic, such as Autofusion, as soon as you can. The technician will evaluate what your car needs, resolve the problem, and turn the light off.

However, if there is smoke coming from your car, or your engine is making strange noises, it's smart to pull to the side of the road and check on your car. You may even need to call for roadside assistance to ensure the car isn't damaged further and that you can, later, safely drive it.

How can you tell the difference, though, based only on an oil light flashing? Let's explore the 4 main reasons for this light to come on, how to tell them apart, and how you should react to each:

Where Is The Oil Warning Light And What Does It Look Like?

The exact look and placement of the oil warning light will differ from vehicle to vehicle. You can check your owner's manual to find out exactly where this light sits on your dashboard and how it should look.

In general, the oil light will resemble an old-fashioned oil can. It may even have the word "OIL" under or next to the light. The light may appear in different colours, depending on the severity of the issue it is flagging, or it may be a single colour for every problem.

If your car's model does support varying colours, a red light means that immediate action should be taken. Meanwhile, orange or yellow is designed to warn you of a minor issue that needs attention as soon as possible, such as within the next several hours. In some vehicles, warning lights may also flash to indicate urgency or remain static to tell you the problem can wait.

Oil Light Flashing: Causes And Solutions

The oil light is designed to tell you when a problem has occurred with your oil or the surrounding systems. If this goes on to affect your engine as a whole, it may be paired with a "check engine" light, making it easier for you to track how the problem is affecting your car.

If you find the oil light flashing or simply appearing on your dash, it could be due to:

Low Oil Levels Or Worn-Out Oil

This is the primary cause of an oil light flashing. Your car's engine needs oil to reduce friction between all the moving parts, ensuring that it can run smoothly. If your vehicle doesn't have the right amount of oil, then failure to lubricate will cause performance issues.

If this goes on long-term, the engine may seize up or even damage itself beyond repair. With this in mind, you should regularly check your oil levels, at least once a month or before you go on any long road trips. If it needs topped up, you should do so then.

Instead of handling it yourself, you can also bring your car into an auto shop every few weeks for checks and refills. Aside from that, be sure to book your car in for an oil change every 3-6 months or every 5,000 miles - whichever comes first. At this point, a mechanic will not only check the oil levels, but also inspect the surrounding systems to ensure the oil pump, filters, and gauges are in proper condition.

This simple job, which can be done as part of your car's service or as part of an "engine oil and filter change" package, will make sure that your vehicle always has clean, fresh oil circulating through the engine. This not only prevents drops in performance, but also improves the lifespan of your car.

Faulty Oil Pressure Gauge Or Oil Pump

After your oil warning light comes on, you might check the oil levels and find them to be normal. In this case, the issue may lie within your car's oil pressure gauge.

Faulty wiring or a larger electric problem can make the gauge malfunction and provide inaccurate readings. This, in turn, could activate the oil warning light. An expert technician can perform a mechanical oil pressure test, or use a full engine diagnostic test, to determine whether or not a lack of pressure or a faulty gauge is the cause of the problem.

Clogged Filter

Filters play an essential part in maintaining the oil pressure in your car's engine. If the filter becomes clogged or overly-dirty, then oil pressure will increase and the flow will reduce. This will cause the oil warning light to activate.

In this event, the best course of action is to have the oil filter cleaned (in minor cases) or replaced (in severe ones or when the filter is too old). This will ensure that oil pressure is once again regulated and the flow of oil is restored, allowing the engine to function normally.

Engine Overheating

Your engine burning through oil is a common cause of oil warning lights, especially in older cars. If your oil warning light is on or flashing, and your engine is making an audible clicking sound, then the oil in your car is failing to lubricate the engine due to overheating.

When oil is overheated, it can either burn off completely or change in viscosity and behave more like water than oil. In doing so, it will fail to lubricate the moving parts of your engine. If this happens and is not properly addressed, the engine will begin grinding against itself and wear out much faster. In more serious cases, this can subject it to irreparable damage.

A whole range of different issues may cause your engine to overheat, from a leak in the cooling system and condensed coolant to a broken water pump. These issues cannot be handled alone. The quicker you seek professional assistance and have your car diagnosed, the better.

Can I Handle An Oil Light Flashing Alone?

If your car has an oil light flashing, finding out the root cause of the alert and having it professionally repaired is vital. Ignoring this light or even delaying a mechanical diagnosis can lead to expensive and sometimes irreparable damage to your engine.

As soon as the warning light appears – especially if this is paired with an unusual knocking sound from the engine, steam or smoke coming from the bonnet, or a general loss of engine performance - don't wait until your next scheduled service. Take your vehicle to a trained technician immediately.

If you have any questions about oil maintenance issues, feel free to give us a call or drop by one of our Autofusion centres today to book an appointment or talk through your options with a technician. Our team of dedicated experts are always happy to help.