What Does a Flashing Fluid Light on Car Mean?

The lights on the dashboard serve important purposes.

A car's dashboard houses multiple gauges and specific indicator lights, such as a fluid light, for engine monitoring by the driver. Knowing the meaning of each dashboard item can help keep the driver and vehicle safe on the road.

Function

When a vehicle is first turned on, all the lights on the dashboard typically flash on and then flash off. If a light continues to stay on, or even flashes, attention to that item or mechanism is needed.

Features

The light that is in the shape of fluid dripping from a container is the low oil pressure indicator. If this light stays flashing, there is not a sufficient amount of oil circulating within the vehicle's engine.

Warning

Having a low oil pressure light flashing indicates that the driver needs to pull over and stop the vehicle immediately. Any oil loss or malfunction that activates this light is serious enough to damage the engine if it keeps running.

References

• MSN Autos: 'Idiot' Enlightenment