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Why is my engine oil light on?

Your engine is a precious part of your vehicle, often working under intense pressures to keep you on the move. And while the engine can’t speak to you to say something’s wrong, it can let you know by switching on the engine oil light. When you see the engine oil light appear on your dashboard, this isn’t something to just ignore, it’s a warning that there’s something you need to check with your engine or engine oil.
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Did you know...?

You should check your engine oil regularly, but it’s worth also keeping a bottle of Mobil engine oil, as well as an old cloth and a funnel, in your vehicle’s boot. This will keep you prepared in case you do unexpectedly run low on engine oil.

An engine oil light on a dashboard

What does it mean when your engine oil light comes on?

There are plenty of reasons why your engine oil light might appear.

It could be because you need to:

  • top up your engine oil
  • an oil pump failure
  • an issue with your oil pressure sensor
  • or there could be a block in the oil system somewhere

Whatever the reason, you need to take it seriously and investigate as soon as you can.

What should you do when you see your engine oil light?

It’s not a good idea to drive with the engine oil light on, as this risks causing real damage to the engine.
Guide on what to do when you see your engine oil light 1)Pull of road when safe 2)Turn off engine 3)Check the engine oil light with a stick 4)Top up If needed 5)Restart engine 6)Check engine oil light is now off 7)Contact
  1. If the engine oil light comes on while you’re driving, you should pull off the road as soon as it’s safe to do so.

  2. Once you’ve safely stopped somewhere, turn off your engine straight away and allow the engine to cool down.

  3. Check your engine oil levels. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to safely check your engine oil here.

  4. If you’re low on engine oil, top-up using the right Mobil engine oil for your vehicle. You can then switch your engine back on to see if this has solved the issue and the engine oil light disappears.

  5. Get in touch with a mechanic who will be able to help investigate further why your engine oil light is on and help fix the issue.
Engine oil pouring out the bottle

Which engine oil is right for my car?

Keep your engine topped up with enough engine oil to help you drive safely for longer. Find the right Mobil engine oil for your vehicle.

Find out more
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    How much engine oil do I need?

    Your engine oil plays a key role in looking after your engine and helping it run at its best. You need to make sure you use the right amount of engine oil for your vehicle and keep it topped up.

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    Mobil 1™

    Our advanced range of synthetic engine oils helps provide outstanding engine protection against wear. Nothing works harder for your car.

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    Mobil Super™

    Mobil Super™ offers a range of synthetic, semi-synthetic and conventional oils providing different levels of protection to match the conditions you face, whilst always ensuring you can drive with full confidence.

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