Reduced engine power light and low engine oil light on

ZACHYATES615

MEMBER
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
2WD
AUTOMATIC
48,000 MILES

I drive the car listed above LS model. I need to get an oil change soon and honestly for about over a month now I get the alert for low engine oil that I just clear because that alert doesn’t match up with what Meinecke gave me for my next oil change and that hasn’t even hit yet. This morning I was driving and got “Reduced Engine Power” alert and now my engine light is on. Nothing changed while driving, but I’m wondering if this is related to me not changing my oil and fixing that alert or something else.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

We can't ignore this alert as it is related. Just because you have not reached your oil change interval yet doesn't mean you are not low on oil.

More then likely your engine is burning oil or has a leak and this light is telling you that you need to put oil in the engine as it is too low.

It has reached the point that it is reducing the power or will reduce the power because you are most likely damaging the engine at this point.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

I would suggest getting the oil changed today or tomorrow and then have them start what is called an oil consumption test. This is where they mark the dipstick and then you return in 1,000 miles and they see how much oil they have to add to get back to that line. This will tell you how much oil you are using in 1,000 miles so they can compare that to the spec. Normally it is between 1 and 2 quarts per 1,000 miles that you are allowed to use but we need to start with this and go from there.

I can't stress enough that if you continue to ignore this, you will be replacing the engine as it will damage the bearing if it has not already.

Let me know if you have questions. Thanks