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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this car issue really terrible? Please help - I know nothing about cars!

37 replies

Uaiwp · 11/02/2025 09:32

The light has come on my car saying check oil level. I called the dealership and they said under no circumstances continue to drive it and that this light means that there must be a leak. The next service is due in July and it is due an oil change, I explained this and said maybe it’s just got low and they said there was no way it would come up saying check oil level unless there was a problem. I’m 10 miles from any garages and now feel I need to call out the AA or something, what would you do? I have no oil at home and wouldn’t even know how to check it. The light came on on Friday.

OP posts:
TheDandyLion · 11/02/2025 09:34

I'd watch a few youtube videos and see if it was something I could do myself.

Namechangedagain56 · 11/02/2025 09:35

Is the light orange or red?

Clearinguptheclutter · 11/02/2025 09:35

Have you got a friend who knows about cars that can come round? Guessing not. If not I would def drive it to the nearest garage.

it needs to be checked out but I wouldn’t necessarily believe the ”you absolutely shouldn’t drive it” message

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 11/02/2025 09:35

Needing to top up your oil is part of normal car maintenance, just like checking your tyres. You just need to open your bonnet and find the dipstick and check the oil level. If needed then top it up. You can find out what oil you need using the checker on the Halfords website. The light should then go off.

araiwa · 11/02/2025 09:35

No oil means exploding engine so yes it's serious and should be dealt with ASAP.

Don't drive the car until you've put some oil in- available in many places such as petrol stations. Check your owners manual for the specific oil recommended by manufacturer

InveterateWineDrinker · 11/02/2025 09:35

I'd suggest finding the dipstick and checking the oil level.

Add more if you need it.

MissUltraViolet · 11/02/2025 09:36

It’s easy to check. Watch some YouTube videos and have a go.

100% do not drive it until you/someone has made sure it has some oil in it, you could destroy your engine.

oustedbymymate · 11/02/2025 09:37

If you've been driving around with no oil since Friday yes that's bad!!

You can check the oil yourself. Pop the bonnet stand it on the stick to keep it up. Get some tissue or cloth. Take the oil dipstick out (will probably have a pic of oil can on) wipe stick on cloth/tissue. Dip again and take the reading. There will be notches on the stick to show you where oil level should be (will leave oil on stick)

If you've still got some oil and it's low drive to nearest garage and top it up.

If no oil at all call AA.

YouTube will show you how to check oil and top up.

Do not check oil when engine has started or is hot

oustedbymymate · 11/02/2025 09:38

Did you not have to do this as part of your test??? I did and I've been driving 20 years

Namechangedagain56 · 11/02/2025 09:41

I work in a service centre. If it’s orange it needs topping up. If it came on on Friday indicating a low level the rest of the oil will not have disappeared by now unless you have a serious leak (you’d have likely seen it under the car). Halfords or your local garage can top up a few litres of oil until your service

MissUltraViolet · 11/02/2025 09:41

Also, it being due a service/oil change in a few months has nothing to do with a low oil warning.

Its normal that cars can use/burn off some oil but if it’s disappearing to the point you have warnings then it’s highly likely there’s an issue somewhere, be it a leak or something more costly.

Don’t drive it anymore! If you can’t check it yourself and have AA then call them out.

Catza · 11/02/2025 09:42

The light doesn't mean there is a leak. It means exactly what it says - "check oil levels". You absolutely shouldn't be driving the car once the light is on. This is basic car maintenance - even I know that and I am a new driver.
You have a car manual which will tell you which oil to use or, as another poster said, you can type your reg into Halfords webiste. The manual will also have instructions on how to check oil levels (and this should have been part of your driving lessons too!). I would strongly consider signing up for a basic car maintenance course in your local college. You really shouldn't be driving without cursory car maintenance knowledge. As a minimum you need to know how to check your consumables, test breaks, tire pressure and power steering.

Original poster
Uaiwp · 11/02/2025 09:42

The light is orange and with an orange triangle and says check oil level

OP posts:
Namechangedagain56 · 11/02/2025 09:43

Uaiwp · 11/02/2025 09:42

The light is orange and with an orange triangle and says check oil level

Then it needs to be checked as above. The engine will not explode

Original poster
Uaiwp · 11/02/2025 09:44

Namechangedagain56 · 11/02/2025 09:41

I work in a service centre. If it’s orange it needs topping up. If it came on on Friday indicating a low level the rest of the oil will not have disappeared by now unless you have a serious leak (you’d have likely seen it under the car). Halfords or your local garage can top up a few litres of oil until your service

Edited

@Namechangedagain56 thank you, this is what I thought that it had just got a bit low so it had come up on the system. I wasn’t going to keep driving it forevermore without checking it but thought it would be ok for a few days doing school run

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 11/02/2025 09:44

Have you checked the oil level with the dipstick or is it a newer car that doesn’t have a dipstick? Either way I wouldn’t drive it until you’ve got oil in it or you could seriously damage your engine. If you think there’s a leak check the ground where you’ve been parked, if no oil patches it probably just needs topping up.

Caerulea · 11/02/2025 09:47

The garage is partly talking shit. No, you mustn't drive it cos the engine can seize & that's a dead car.

But! A check oil light is exactly that, check oil cos it's low as it's been used up. Assuming it's an ordinary car or it's not only just been topped up, there's no reason for them to assume a leak, that's just weird.

In your manual it will tell you the kind of oil you need, most petrol stations carry it in 5l bottles or just get some delivered from amazon for tomorrow. Check the dip stick by pulling it out, drying it & dipping it back in, the wet line should in the kinked part & it won't be. Refill when the oil arrives via the oil cap.

If the light comes back on after a couple of days then sure, a leak.

Sherararara · 11/02/2025 09:56

What type of car is it OP?

OrlandointheWilderness · 11/02/2025 10:00

Why on earth don't you check your oil?! It's basic car maintenance.

Billydavey · 11/02/2025 10:03

Uaiwp · 11/02/2025 09:44

@Namechangedagain56 thank you, this is what I thought that it had just got a bit low so it had come up on the system. I wasn’t going to keep driving it forevermore without checking it but thought it would be ok for a few days doing school run

Show quote history

It’s probably just a bit low so yes you need to check.

also it’s probably not ok to keep driving around “for a few days”. It’s fine to drive to a garage or a shop to buy oil but carrying on your usual routine is taking a chance…

Pinkywoo · 11/02/2025 10:05

Check oil level on the dipstick (there are YouTube videos if you're not sure)

Go on Halfords website and find which oil your car takes (eg mine has 5W30)

Order bottle of oil from Amazon

Fill up oil

Gogogo12345 · 11/02/2025 10:08

oustedbymymate · 11/02/2025 09:38

Did you not have to do this as part of your test??? I did and I've been driving 20 years

Not in my test although I passed in 1992. I do know how to check oil though

DappledThings · 11/02/2025 10:11

Check online what kind of oil it needs, drive to nearest garage and buy some. Top it up there and then.

Biggest issue is likely to be how tight the cap is screwed on. Last time this happened to us the light came on near the end of a long journey. Went to nearest garage the next day and neither of us could get the cap off. Fortunately a local with many tools used something out of his truck and was really helpful.

ImWearingPantaloons · 11/02/2025 10:12

When did you check it last?

SoScarletItWas · 11/02/2025 10:14

You weren’t going to drive it til the service in July, I’m sure, so that’s not relevant. You also should check it very promptly once the light comes on, don’t drive it for ‘a few days’.

How do you think it’s going to stop being low?! You need to top it up. Easy job as PP have explained. You can sort this, no need for AA.

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