> I have 14% oil life left...?

I have 14% oil life left...?

Posted at: 2015-01-07 
Check to see if it is low. If it isn't then you will be just fine until tomorrow. If the stick says it's low then I would put a little in to get it to a normal level.

Just so you understand, When it says 14% it doesn't mean you only have 14% of the original volume of oil in your car, it means the life of your oil is at 14% (Which is just an indicator of when to change it). If you only had 14% of the original amount of oil your car would have blown up a long time ago,

Your engine will be fine with the same oil for another 10,000 miles, but ideally you should change the oil soon to get the longest engine life. Go ahead and make the trip then get an oil change right afterwards. It's no big deal. Americans have an unhealthy obsession with motor oil to the point of ignoring 50 other equal or greater maintenance items long past their recommended intervals, so be sure to read your owner's manual and do everything it says.

Check your oil level with a dipstick before adding any. If it's low, then add some. Don't add any if it's not low. You should be doing this all the time anyway regardless of when your next oil change is. Check the coolant reservoir at the same time. There should likewise be L and F lines. Don't fill it to the top of the reservoir, only to F. If it's low then add pre-diluted antifreeze, but pure antifreeze or distilled water or if you must now and then tap water will be totally fine in a pinch. If it's brown, then good job damaging your engine by only paying attention to oil. Better check the other 50 items too before you destroy your car.

Adding oil isn't the issue the issue is that you have 14% oil life left. It is telling you that sometime soon you need to get an oil change...not that you only have 14% of the oil you need in the crankcase. You could throw away the oil now and the 14% of the oils value by changing it prematurely. Honda uses synthetic oils in the cars they make. If you should need oil for some reason make sure you use the right oil.

Without knowing what car you have and how often you are supposed to change oil in it, I can only guess that 14% of 5000 miles would be 700 miles before you have to change oil. Changing oil is much different than maintaining the proper oil level.

You are fine, go ahead and do the 100 mile trip. If you feel like you can check the dip-stick and make sure you have enough oil, but you're probably fine.

Do not overfill the full line on your sip-stick! You have 14% of the USEABLE LIFE of your engine oil left. This has absolutely nothing to do with the oil level in the crankcase.

Please, oh please please please, read the owners manual. It has all kinds of fun information about your car, including just what the oil life indicator is for. It might even show you how to open the hood.

and I need to drive about 100 miles. It's 2100 and there's no place to do an oil change. Plus, it's raining. Can I just add a little oil to my car to hold me over until tomorrow morning when I'll get a real oil change?