There is an oil light indicator in each car that lets you know when to change the oil for optimal performance. So what does 15 oil life mean?
It is a nagging question. If you have a doubt about this term, figure out your answer in the following sections.
Keep scrolling down!
What Is The Oil Life Percentage?
Oil life refers to your engine oil’s quality. It is often misunderstood to provide information about the oil level.
Hence, when the percentage of oil is low, it is high time you replace the fuel instead of adding an amount to your car tank.
When the figure is 100% on the dashboard, your fuel is fresh engine oil with its optimal lubricating properties.
By contrast, when zero percent appears, you must replace your oil instantly. If not, severe damage to engine parts is rendered.
So what does 15 percent oil life mean? The answer is below!
What Does 15 Oil Life Mean?
As mentioned earlier, the oil life percentage is indicative of the oil’s health. If the oil life is at 15, your engine oil is only 15% left and should be maintained to avert worse scenarios.
You might easily spot a yellow wrench icon on your automobile’s dashboard, which warns that your car is unsafe to drive.
In this case, you need to take your car to a reliable service station, so certified mechanics will check your fuel and engine operating conditions.
Suppose you know the 15 oil life meaning but ignore the warning and continue to drive.
This practice will wreak havoc on your vehicle in the long run. Oil acts as a lubricant that facilitates mutual contact between different motor parts.
How Is An Oil Life Percentage Classified As Good?
First, you must know how a normal car’s oil life percentage operates. It is physically shown by an icon, which belongs to the maintenance reminder system.
When you have already added the new oil to your car tank, the reading might interpret 100%. The oil was completely pure at that time.
Over a while, the oil will be clogged with contaminants, including dirt, debris, and carbonated particles.
Following is the reduction in its effectiveness and performance. The readout would decrease gradually, and the 15 percent oil life is a threshold classifying whether your oil is good or degraded.
For instance, if the number on your dashboard is below 15%, a fuel service should be due.
Is The Oil Life Percentage Accurate?
Yes.
Generally speaking, the oil life is accurate but sometimes conservative. It will wind down until 0% when the gas mileage is on the increase, showing that your engine oil has deteriorated.
In many automobiles, the oil change is set per mile interval.
Still, most manufacturers advise that you should make a replacement of the old oil beforehand to avoid the vehicle’s sudden stalling or even explosion.
The best thing you can do is to frequently check your oil with the assistance of a dipstick.
The oil will likely lose its viscosity and effectiveness if the color turns black. You can also read the brand’s manual or terms of service for further information.
How To Reset The Oil Life Percentage?
If you notice something wrong with the oil life percentage, the powertrain control module will send an alert signal to drivers.
You must reactivate the information display sensor from scratch to solve this problem. If not, erroneous data is still presented.
Yet how to do so? Here is an all-inclusive guidance for you to consider:
- Step 1: Stop your car, shut off the engine and let your car sit for a couple of minutes.
- Step 2: Switch the ignition key on. By doing so, only your car is activated while its motor parts are still idle.
- Step 3: This step requires you to handle the brake pedal twice (notice the squeaking sound for a timely fix). Don’t be mistaken for the accelerator, as they are positioned close together.
- Step 4: You then depress the knob with a “Trip” label on its outer side. The oil maintenance display will pop up on your vehicle’s dashboard.
- Step 5: Hold and press the knob upwards until the reading reaches 100% and the oil life data is reset successfully. Good luck!
At What Oil Life Percentage Should Oil Be Changed?
When the oil life percentage reaches 5 percent, the powertrain control module will send a signal to the maintenance reminder system.
It will inform you to change your oil. Knowing the oil life 15 percent meaning, we suggest you do the replacement at this point.
Your oil degrades faster if you regularly drive on hilly terrain, or your car is encountering some problems, like short circuits or short trips. You should examine and check it usually instead of waiting for the yellow wrench to appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Bad To Drive With The Low Oil Life Percentage?
The answer is yes.
With our explanation of oil life 15 meaning, you know the low oil life percentage indicates that your oil’s quality is poor.
Indeed, when the readout turns 0%, all of its properties have nearly gone, causing it to die.
If you don’t timely change your old oil, the scenario of engine wear is on the horizon. Suppose this issue persists; you might spend a lot of money to repair your wheel drive vehicle in the long run.
Is The Oil Pressure Indicator Different From The Oil Life Percentage?
Yes.
Please don’t confuse the oil pressure indicator with the oil life percentage because of their different functions and operation.
Indeed, a little red icon on your dashboard is for the oil life indicator, while the oil percentage is marked by the yellow one.
When you activate the ignition switch, the indicator will light up briefly until you start the engine.
In other words, it will never illuminate while you disengage the clutch. If this happens, the oil pressure will likely drop very low, alerting you about the problem.
What Are The Symptoms Of Low Oil Engine Pressure?
Following are various signs, warning low pressure in the motor oil:
- The oil light’s turning is the most discernible sign. The sensor will trigger the light when the oil pressure diminishes below the threshold.
- Another symptom is poor engine performance, such as sudden stalling, power-losing, or excessive burning.
- You should pay attention to the burning oil smell, which often stems from the oil leakage.
- Unusual engine noises, like cracking, are also enlisted. Due to the reduction in the oil pressure, it will not function properly and no longer lubricate your car’s engines well.
- Engine overheating is the eventual symptom, mainly rendered by the clogged oil filter and increased friction.
The Bottom Line
Our article is honored to help you solve the question: What does 15 oil life mean?
Besides, we provide comprehensive insights into the definition and resetting method of oil life percentage. Hope these knowledge sources will assist you!
Thank you for being supportive, and have a nice day!