WHAT YOUR OIL INDICATOR ISN’T TELLING YOU

Most new cars have an indicator on the dash that tells you when you should have your oil changed. Many people think that there’s some sensor inside the engine that is measuring and testing the oil to tell you when its dirty or losing its ability to lubricate. But that is certainly not the case.

Those indicators are basically countdown clocks. They figure that oil is good for ‘X’ amount of engine revolutions and then they count that down to zero. They don’t know how much oil is in the crankcase and they certainly don’t know the condition of the oil.

You’re still better off sticking to the manufacturer’s specs on miles between oil changes. Pull your dipstick occasionally to see if your vehicle is consuming oil.

While it seems like a no-brainer to just wait until the indicator goes off, don’t be fooled into thinking that it should be the standard as to when you pay attention to your oil. You need to take the care of your car into your own hands, and not simply count on an unreliable dashboard warning.

If you have any questions about this topic, or if you need auto help of anytime, take it to the House!