Can an Oil Change Turn On the Check Engine Light?

First, work out which warning you have

An oil change reminder and a check engine light can show up around the same time, but they're asking for different things. The reminder wants fresh oil. The check engine light means the car has found an engine or emissions fault that needs diagnosing.

We'd read the exact message or symbol before doing anything else, because an oil pressure warning means stopping right away, while an oil change reminder just means booking service.

A flashing check engine light is urgent too. EPA says a flashing light indicates a severe misfire, which can seriously damage the catalytic converter, so we'd pull over when it's safe and call for help rather than keep driving.

Labels vary by make. On a 2013 Ford Fiesta, Service Engine Soon is the check engine light, and the oil change reminder reads ENGINE OIL CHANGE DUE NEXT SERVICE or OIL CHANGE REQUIRED. Its separate engine oil pressure warning (the message reads ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW, STOP SAFELY) means stop as soon as it's safe, switch the engine off and check the oil level, and don't carry on with your trip if the warning stays on with the level correct.

When oil does set off the check engine light

On some engines, oil really can be behind the check engine light. Service bulletins from four makers show how.

A low oil level. On some 2019 and 2020 Ford F-150s with the 5.0L engine, Ford's service fix (opens in a new tab) for a check engine light with camshaft timing codes starts with making sure the oil is at the proper level.

Dirty or wrong oil. Subaru's 2016 bulletin on valve timing codes (opens in a new tab), for models including the Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Crosstrek, WRX and BRZ, has technicians check whether the oil level is out of range, whether the oil is excessively dirty or clotted from additives, and whether oil of the wrong viscosity was used.

A filler cap that wasn't put back properly. Audi's bulletin (opens in a new tab) for 2021 to 2025 models with the 2.0-liter TFSI engine names an incorrectly installed oil filler cap as a possible cause of a check engine light, rough running and oil near the cap.

The oil filter. GM's technician guidance (opens in a new tab) for some 2007 to 2013 V8 models, including the Chevrolet Silverado and Tahoe, covers a check engine light with code P0521 after an oil change, and recommends a different oil filter.

All of these are for a technician to confirm, and GM points out that its bulletins are written for professional technicians, not do-it-yourselfers. What you can do is check the oil level and pass the details on.

Check the oil level yourself

We'd check the dipstick before calling anyone. Your owner's manual walks you through it, and the oil level is the first thing Ford's F-150 fix looks at. Chevrolet tells owners to check the level even after an Oil Pressure Low/Stop Engine message, once the car is stopped and the engine is off.

The dipstick handle can be hot, so use a towel or glove. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any electric fan under the hood, because it can start up even with the engine off.

1. Park on level ground and switch the engine off.
2. Wait as long as your manual says. A 2013 Ford Fiesta calls for 10 minutes. A 2018 Chevrolet Silverado calls for at least two hours, or at least 15 minutes if the engine is warm and 30 minutes if it isn't.
3. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, push it all the way back in, then pull it out again and read the level against the marks.

Too little oil and too much oil are both harmful to the engine, so tell the shop exactly where the level sits. If it reads above the range marked on the dipstick after an oil change, one option the Silverado manual gives is to limit driving and have a service professional remove the excess.

If you drive a Chevrolet

Chevrolet's engine oil guidance (opens in a new tab) covers two oil messages. Change Engine Oil Soon means change the oil and filter as soon as possible. The oil life monitor behind it, on 2004 and newer GM vehicles, estimates how long the oil will last based on how you use the car, and a Certified Service Technician resets it after the change. The owner's manual also shows how to reset it yourself.

Oil Pressure Low/Stop Engine is the serious one. Safely bring the vehicle to a stop and don't restart the engine, because running it with low oil pressure can damage the engine. Check the oil level using your owner's manual, then contact your Chevrolet dealer.

A Chevrolet check engine light means the car has detected a malfunction with the engine or propulsion system. Chevrolet's warning light guide (opens in a new tab) says to get it serviced as soon as possible, and the light can come on before any problem is noticeable while driving.

If you spot an oil leak, schedule service. For the right oil grade, check the owner's manual or ask the dealer.

If the light came on after an oil change

Contact the shop that did the oil change and have the check engine light diagnosed as soon as possible, even if the car feels normal. The oil change and any oil-life reset take care of the reminder, not the check engine light, so if both came on, report both. Tell them:

• The exact warning or message, and whether the light is steady or flashing
• When it first came on compared with the oil change
• What the dipstick showed, if you checked it
• The oil grade and filter listed on the invoice
• Anything you've noticed, like rough running, a new engine noise or oil around the filler cap

Ask them to read the stored codes. The timing is a useful clue, and a technician's scan tool pulls information that can pinpoint the problem.