Will the Check Engine Light Come on for Low Oil?

Yes, low oil can cause your check engine light to come on. It kicks in once low oil starts affecting how your engine runs.

If the check engine light just popped on in your vehicle, here's what it means and what to do next.

Check Engine vs. Oil Pressure vs. Maintenance Required Lights

Three lights often get mixed up on a dashboard. Knowing which one you're looking at changes what you do next.

The oil pressure light looks like an old-fashioned oil can and means your oil pressure has dropped low. Continuing to drive can destroy internal parts, so you’ll want to get service soon.

The maintenance-required light is a timer that counts mileage until your next scheduled service, like an oil change or tire rotation. It looks like a wrench. This light doesn’t reflect an emergency.

The check engine light flags a fault the engine computer picked up. It looks like the outline of an engine. While low oil can be the culprit, so can a loose gas cap or a failing sensor.

Note: Dashboard light appearance may vary between cars.

How Low Oil Can Trigger the Check Engine Light

When the oil level drops too low, engine parts stop getting the lubrication they need. The increased friction builds heat, and the engine computer flags it. Modern engines lean on steady oil pressure to keep valve timing and other internal systems running correctly. When oil runs short, those systems drift out of spec, and that's often enough to trip a code.

Signs That Low Oil Is Causing Trouble

If low oil is behind your check engine light, you'll usually notice other warning signs before or alongside it. Here are a few to watch for:

• A ticking or knocking sound from the engine

• A burning oil smell, especially after driving

• Oil spots showing up under the car

• The oil pressure light coming on at the same time

• Sluggish acceleration or a rough idle (when the car shakes or sputters while stopped)

Write down any other dashboard messages, when the light came on, and how the car's been running. These details can help a technician figure out what's wrong faster. Just like driving with low tire pressure, ignoring low-oil symptoms puts your car at risk of bigger, more expensive problems down the road.

What to Do When the Check Engine Light Comes on for Low Oil

Don't panic, and don't guess. Check your oil level with the dipstick first. If it's low, top it off to protect the engine right away. Low oil doesn't happen for no reason, so it's worth having a technician look into the cause. The check engine light may not clear on its own, either, until it's been reset or the underlying issue is fixed. For more on diagnosing the light itself, find out what to do when your check engine light is on.

Or make it simple. Drive into Take 5, no appointment needed and let a technician check your oil level while you stay in your car. Ten minutes, and you'll know exactly what's going on under the hood.

Keep the Light Off With Regular Oil Changes

Many oil-related check engine triggers are preventable. Sticking to a regular oil change schedule keeps oil clean and at the right level, which protects the sensors and engine components that throw codes when oil runs low or breaks down.

A routine oil change isn't a chore. It's what keeps that dashboard light from showing up in the first place. Take 5 makes it easy: pull into the oil change bay, stay in your car, and get back to your day.

Find a Take 5 location near you.