Oil warning light on Seat Leon

Shurwhynot

Hi all,

I was driving into work this morning and a red flashing light came on my dash. I realised straight away that it was the oil light. As i wasn't too far from my work place and I didn't want to stop in the middle of traffic, I kept driving til i got to work. Shortly after the light came on, i noticed a kind of ticking noise coming from the car, and this noise would stop when i geared down or the car was stopped at lights.

So basically does this just mean i need to top up the oil in my car? I hadn't driven it since Thursday so obviously the cold weather may have affected it.

Henry Ford III

What's the oil level on the dipstick? The oil warning light generally means stop now.

Shurwhynot

Shurwhynot wrote: »

Hi all,

I was driving into work this morning and a red flashing light came on my dash......... I kept driving til i got to work. Shortly after the light came on, i noticed a kind of ticking noise coming from the car, and this noise would stop when i geared down or the car was stopped at lights.

May well mean your engine has suffered severe damage due to you driving it on low oil pressure or level.

Shurwhynot

I've just been out and topped up my oil, as it was very low/non existant when i checked the dipstick. Turned on the car and the light is gone off and the car sounds ok. Is this a good sign?

It confirms that the issue was driving the car with low oil level May or may not have damaged it.

Boom_Bap

the noise you heard could have been a loose tappet due to low oil level.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

The ticking noise after the low oil level is generally going to be a bad sign

Henry Ford III

Shurwhynot wrote: »

I've just been out and topped up my oil, as it was very low/non existant when i checked the dipstick. Turned on the car and the light is gone off and the car sounds ok. Is this a good sign?

I'd say so. You may have dodged a bullet.

keithclancy

Flashing red means low oil pressure afaik.

You probably have a leak somewhere.

Get it checked when you can, I had a leak a slow leak on my octavia for ages, just kept topping up.

EPM

Shurwhynot wrote: »

I've just been out and topped up my oil, as it was very low/non existant when i checked the dipstick. Turned on the car and the light is gone off and the car sounds ok. Is this a good sign?

Yes and no. You may just have had a lucky escape. I hope for your own sake you did. But there may be a root cause for the low level or just you haven't checked it in a while. I would get the car checked just to be safe.

And in future stop the car immediately - I don't know what you were thinking tbh.

BronsonTB

And no harm checking the level daily to see if it dissappearing at a dangerous rate....

VinnyTGM

Boom_Bap wrote: »

the noise you heard could have been a loose tappet due to low oil level.

+1

Nissan doctor

There will be a leak or other issue causing the oil to run so low depending on how regularly you check your level.

If the light was on and the engine became noisy, then damage was being done, topping it up may mean it ok for now but you will have reduced the life of some of your engine components.

mickdw

First rule of motoring. Red light is serious and means stop immediately.
Modern cars generally have a system of orange warning lights as reminders with the red being the serious STOP warning.

Neilw

Expensive lesson if your engine is fubar.

You really should check oil at least once a week, not good enough to wait until the light comes on.