Can I drive 6 miles with oil level indicator on?

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jibaro1953@reddit

Oil pressure warning means pull over and shut the engine off right away.

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I’ve helped so many people that didn’t realize this. Had one that had this happen and I checked her oil and saw that it was dry as a bone, and then only put half of the oil that her car needed in it. Her car though

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wheelsmatsjall@reddit

No it is not safe it means you're not sucking oil up through the engine. You can drive it 6 miles but you probably won't make it and you'll blow up the engine so unless you can afford a new engine I would not chance it. Unless you have $5,000 to throw out the car. Get an Uber get oil period

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Soundbyte_79@reddit

Check the dipstick. Not sure when the low oil warning comes on but usually by the time it comes on, engine damage has been done.

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AKJangly@reddit

There's a big difference between low oil level and low oil pressure.

But either way, step one is still to check the oil level.

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Soundbyte_79@reddit

True. The closest I can relate is my 2009 Subaru Impreza which has no oil pressure gauge, if the check oil light comes on you’re in trouble.

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RadishSauce@reddit

I would double check the meaning of the oil light that you're talking about. A lot of people think it's a low oil level light or check engine oil light when it's really a low oil pressure light.

There is a difference between the two and the low oil pressure light is more important/urgent than a low oil level light. Your subaru impreza doesnt have a check oil light, it's a low oil pressure light.

You still don't realize this based on your comment that you think it's a check oil light.

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Soundbyte_79@reddit

I still don’t realize that? I’m not the OP who has the oil problem lol

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RadishSauce@reddit

My bad, you're right. I thought that Subaru didn't have a check oil level light, so my comments were wrong.

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RadishSauce@reddit

Why are you so defensive? It's a common problem that people think that the low oil pressure light is a check engine oil light.

Did you even double check the meaning of that light for your car? I wasn't even shitting on you, just giving you a warning. Stop having such an ego for no reason. Yes, you still don't realize that because it's not a check oil light

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guac_fiend@reddit

Lots of people not knowing what they’re talking about - it’s not that bad. If the icon is yellow, it’s low oil and you can drive the 6 miles. Hell, you can drive way more than that if you wanted to, it will be totally fine. However, if the icon is red, then that means there is NO oil and you have zero oil pressure; that’s when it’s bad and you need to fill it before turning it on, and also check you don’t have a gaping hole somewhere down under.

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RadishSauce@reddit

You have no idea what you're talking about either lmao. Low oil level is not a casual warning that can easily be ignored. You're saying it's totally fine to drive with low oil? Lol, it's only totally fine if you're totally fine with the possibility of severely damaging your engine.

The advice you are giving is bad advice. Before you attack me please do a little research why driving with low oil is bad.

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

If there's oil on the stick you can drive

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RadishSauce@reddit

This is wrong and thinking this can lead to needing a new engine. Just a fyi

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

Every one of the 20-25 vehicles I've owned had an oil pressure gauge.

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RadishSauce@reddit

That doesn't change the fact that your statement is wrong. You can have oil on the stick and low oil pressure. Also, a lot of people don't have an oil pressure gauge so it's even worse for those people to believe what you wrote.

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

Yes I can imagine an EV has no oil pressure gauge. Are you saying there are normal internal combustion cars that don't have an oil pressure gauge???!?!??

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RadishSauce@reddit

An EV wouldnt have a dipstick either so why would they have an oil pressure gauge lol. Yes, not all internal combustion engines have an oil pressure gauge. I have a 2024 Toyota that doesn't have one and it uses gasoline. There's also a difference between an oil pressure gauge and an oil pressure sensor. Damn some people have egos for no reason. It's okay to be wrong sometimes.

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

If the sensor fails what does the gauge show?

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RadishSauce@reddit

Nothing if they don't have one. It would show low oil pressure light on the dash though if their car had that feature, which almost all modern ICE have.

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

So from the perspective of the vehicle driver looking at his instrument cluster, what is the difference between a failed pump, a failed sensor, a failed gauge, and an empty sump?

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RadishSauce@reddit

I think you realized, so I'll stop trying to explain.

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RadishSauce@reddit

Most cars dont have an oil pressure gauge.

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

That explains it, I drive pickup trucks.

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rudbri93@reddit

there have been many that just have the ol' idiot light for oil pressure.

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nyrb001@reddit

Oil pumps never fail, pickup screens never get clogged and bypass valves never get stuck open in your world, eh?

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NumerousDrawer4434@reddit

Never had it happen to me nor to any of my 10 aunts&uncles, 30 cousins, and all the backyard or journeyman mechanics I've known.

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nyrb001@reddit

I guess it never ever happens then, just keep driving! It hasn't happened to you so it'll never happen to anyone else!

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Remarkable-Jaguar938@reddit

You're driving a Subaru. You should be checking your oil every second or third gas fill-up you do. This takes me about 30 seconds in my STi.

Pull up to chosen pump.
Pop the gas tank release lever and hood lever.
Go inside pay, tap Google pay on pump, or use stations app to pay.
Select desired octane, and set the pump to auto fill by squeezing the trigger and adjusting the metal lever on the pump into the notch.
Walk down the passenger side if the tank is on the right and grab one or two of the supplied paper towels from the window wash thingy in between the pumps.
Pop hood latch and open. If not hydraulic supported like mine, look for hood prop and slot it into the notch on the underside of your hood to hold it up.
Look for the yellow dip stick, remove and wipe clean with your first towel.
Insert clean dip stick into the tube you removed it from and read where your oil level is sitting on the stick. Tip only read from the side that has marked notches as the other side is considered the back side and won't give a proper reading per owner's manual.
Evaluate if you need oil or if you're still good. Generally speaking, if the stick is reading close to the low notch, you're generally about half a quart low. If you need assistance finding what oil your motor runs, you can look at the oil cap close by to the dip stick, or it will be in your owners manual.
Proceed to add oil if needed, then close hood.
The gas pump should either still be going or has clicked off by now, depending on how long it took you to do the above.
Return to normal gas station routine and go on about your business.

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Wonderful_Ant1781@reddit (OP)

Thank you, this was very helpful. I just ordered oil on doordash and will add oil tonight.

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JT-Av8or@reddit

THERE IS NO OIL LEVEL INDICATOR. Such a thing doesn’t exist, that’s oil pressure, which means you’re driving the motor dry. If you can push it to 7 miles you might make diamonds out of the carbon when you fuse your engine block into a solid piece of metal.

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rudbri93@reddit

some makes have had oil level sensors since the late 70s. theyre fairly common on modern stuff.

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ca_nucklehead@reddit

Might just want to do a quick google search for Subaru oil level sensor their chief! ALL CAPS DOES NOT MAKE YOU SMARTER (unless you are a president I guess)

When the sensor fails it usually fails positive. Which means it indicates a low level when in fact it is OK. Op pull the dipstick and confirm the level. You may be fine to drive it.

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MoSChuin@reddit

No

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earthman34@reddit

Here's a really crazy idea: put some goddamn oil in it.

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Admiral_peck@reddit

Add oil THEN drive to the oil change

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AKJangly@reddit

Buddy's engine ran bone dry, had to add 5qts. Ran like a top after that.

I told him to stop changing his oil and just top up every time he fills the tank, and change the filter every few months.

But that was an old Grand Caravan.

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Total-Composer2261@reddit

Pfft.. You can probably drive 7.

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proscriptus@reddit

Maybe it's fine. Maybe it'll blow up immediately!

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Yotasnponchos75@reddit

Light comes on and you're already 50/50 possibly damaged. NEVER drive with any oil light on. EVER!

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Monotone-Man19@reddit

Does the light indicate 1. Low oil level; or 2. Low oil pressure?

There is a big difference. Of course having a very low oil level will also cause the low oil pressure light to come on, and continued use will likely damage the engine. If only the low oil level light is on, ok to just drive a few miles low revs and buy a liter of oil to top up until time to change the oil. Many cars need some oil added between oil changes.

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right415@reddit

Fuck no! Fill the oil till it's at the full mark on the dipstick.