It’s crucial to know a few things about your car, especially the dashboard lights. This will help you not panic when you see a strange light on your dashboard. In addition, car computers trigger several warning lights and error messages on your message screen to notify you of imminent issues whenever it detects one.
One of these lights is a change engine oil soon warning message. Rx mechanic team of experts has drafted a well-detailed and informative article on the meaning of a change engine oil soon warning message.
So, whether you have a change engine oil soon on Ford Edge, focus, fusion, explorer, expedition, or change engine oil soon on Chevy, we’ll explain how to resolve them in the subsequent paragraphs. But first, let’s see what a change motor oil soon means.
What Does Change Engine Oil Soon Message Means?
A change motor oil soon can pop up on your driver information center (DIC) whether your computer detects that it’s time to change your engine oil. Or it could be a reminder that you need to replace your motor oil within the next few miles.
However, you can have a change engine oil soon after oil change because the car computer does not typically know when you change the engine oil. Instead, it works based on the information you input into the system to monitor the motor Oil Life System.
Therefore, if you fail to reset the Oil Life System after motor oil and oil filter replacement, the change motor oil soon on your ford f150 or your respective vehicle will appear soon. So, it is important to reset the Oil Life System after every oil change.
Several vehicles have a mechanism that tells the driver or car owner when to replace motor oil and oil filters. However, this mechanism does not read the actual mileage you travel. Instead, it reads the oil temperature and engine revolution.
Regardless of what the Oil Life System reads, you need to reset it every time you replace engine oil for accurate readings. Whenever the computer calculates the motor oil is due for replacement based on the last reset, it will trigger a change engine oil soon light on the driver information center.
So, what should you do when this happens? Let’s find out in the next few paragraphs.
Read Also: Service Engine Soon Light: All That You Need To Know
What To Do If Change Engine Oil Soon Message Comes On
Thankfully, the change motor oil soon warning message does not mean there’s an underlying engine issue, nor will it cost you a fortune to rectify. It is a straightforward fix. Whenever this warning message appears on your DIC, do not panic. Follow the below steps to rectify it.
Change your old motor oil with the manufacturer’s recommended oil and quality oil filter. This step is important because a low-quality oil filter will be detrimental in the shortest time. It may cause oil leaks from the bottom of a car, dark exhaust smoke, audible metallic sound, or even high fuel consumption because it is as good as a bad one.
Similarly, the low-quality engine oil will lead to high fuel consumption and drop expensive engine repair bills on the table.
After changing the oil and oil filter with the manufacturer’s recommendation, proceed to a change engine oil soon reset to clear the warning message.
- Switch the car to the ON position
- Press the vehicle DIC menu button to project the car information
- Click on the down or up button to view the remaining motor oil life
- Click on the clear/set button until you see 100% or fully reset, depending on your vehicle’s make and model
- Return the key to the OFF position.
Related Queries
How long can I drive with change oil soon?
One of the questions I get in my garage is, I have a change engine oil soon; how long can I drive? I won’t advise you to continue driving your vehicle for an extended period when this light comes on. However, once a change motor oil soon pops up on your drivers’ information center, do not drive more than 500 miles or two weeks. It’s fine to change the motor oil sooner.
However, there are exceptions to this. For instance, If the oil change warning message appears on your DIC after an oil change, you don’t need to change the oil again. Instead, clear the warning message.
It’s possible the mechanic did not reset the Oil Life System after changing the motor oil.
Is it OK to change the engine oil early?
Experts recommend changing your motor oil at least twice a year or every 5,000 miles. Exceeding this period may accelerate engine wear and tear. On the other hand, it’s okay to change your engine oil much early. It doesn’t hurt the engine in any way. However, you may have to spend more on purchasing the motor oil and filter.
What happens if you don’t change your oil soon enough?
Every driver and car enthusiast knows that driving without motor oil will cause catastrophic damage to the engine. Overdue motor oil will also cause problems. Overdue engine oil will lose its lubricating properties, cause sludge deposits, and will not proffer its cooling solution.
Your engine may break down if you continue driving with an overdue engine for an extended period.
What happens if you change oil too soon?
Changing engine oil too soon will not help your car perform any better. It won’t hurt it either, but you’re spending unnecessary bucks, wasting time and energy. In any case, it’s essential to note that changing oil too soon means putting stress on the environment by throwing away reusable oil.
Can I add oil to my car until I get an oil change?
If your oil level is below the recommended mark, you can add extra oil to it. You need to use the manufacturer’s specified oil or the same oil viscosity. Do not mix two different oil viscosity.
Can you go 2 years between oil changes?
Manufacturers recommend changing engine oils every 3 months or 3,000 miles on older engines. But with engine technology advancement, it’s OK to change oils between 7,500 and 10,000 miles or 6 to 1 year, whichever comes first. So I recommend changing your motor oil within a year, even if you drive a few thousand miles.
Leaving the oil for up to two years will cause more harm than good.
Do you really need to change oil every 6 months?
Auto manufacturers use different technology in building their engines. Because of that, they have different specifications and replacement intervals. For example, while some automakers recommend staying one year between oil changes with synthetic oils, others recommend replacing motor oil every six months with mineral oils.
Therefore, always stick with your manufacturer’s recommendation. In addition, you may want to find out the differences and similarities between regular oil and synthetic oils.
Final words
While changing engine oil soon on your ford or any vehicle brand will not cause damages within the first two weeks, do not ignore it. Neglecting a change engine oil soon warning message for an extended period may cause the motor oil to lose its viscosity and lubricating properties.
All you need to resolve the warning light is to change the old oil and filter and reset the Oil Life System on your vehicle DIC.
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