If you’ve spent time behind the wheel, you’ll recognize the dreaded maintenance indicator light, aka oil change light, when it illuminates your dash. A frequent question we answer for drivers is, “how important is this light?” A perfect example came into the shop last week.
This particular vehicle came in because it was running “weird” and the check engine light (alerts the driver when there is a problem with the way the engine is working) had turned on and off at different times. After gathering more information about the vehicle’s symptoms, we learned that the check engine light had been coming on for a few weeks and the driver would notice a lack of power / engine performance when the light was present. After looking a little deeper into the concern, we found the vehicle had 48,524 miles on the odometer and the 45,000 mile service had not been performed. The maintenance indicator (alerts the driver that vehicle maintenance is due: oil change, air filters, transmission service, etc.) was also illuminating the dash. When asked about the maintenance light, the driver stated it had been on for a while. Then they asked, “How important is that light? It’s just a suggestion, right?”.
In this example, the maintenance indicator was the first step notifying the driver there was an issue. Some maintenance indicators are mileage based, some use an algorithm, and others directly measure the oil and its content. Regardless of the system your vehicle has, this is the manufacturer’s way to inform you of the minimum service requirements, and I will stress MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. As your engine operates, it burns a small amount of oil during the combustion process and deposits soot, metal, and moisture into the oil. This lowers the oil level, degrades the oil, leaves behind deposits that restrict oil passages, and adds friction that causes long term wear on important internal parts.
Because the maintenance light was ignored, the oil condition worsened and the level inside the engine fell to a dangerous point, thereby affecting engine operation and triggering the check engine light. The resulting repairs could have easily been avoided if the driver had maintained their vehicle more frequently and made a reservation for service as soon as (or before) they noticed the maintenance indicator appear.
Personally, I use a proactive approach when it comes to maintaining my own vehicles. I would rather invest in additional minor maintenance now than pay for more costly major repairs later. Even though my maintenance indicator comes on every 10,000 miles, I replace my oil and filter every 5,000 miles. It is also important to remember that the maintenance indicator is not just an oil change reminder. There is a list of other required maintenance services that need to be performed to ensure vehicle health. The experts at Dripping Springs Automotive can assist you with creating a maintenance plan that will take care of your vehicle and not break the bank. Call us at 512-829-5123 for more information.