Oil change light came on while driving

[SaturngirlSc2]

I was out last night driving around, and my oil change lamp came on. Usually if it comes on, it does it when I start the car, hence the concern. It had been driving for over 40 minutes when it came on, and I had my oil change done about a month ago.

It hasn't done it since last night, but just was concerned. Should I be?

Thanks,

Laura

[onefunkar]

whoever changed your oil last probably didnt care enough to reset the light

[SaturngirlSc2]

Well... since I was over on my last oil change, they did reset the light, since that is what reminded me I needed to get it done.

Usually it comes on first thing - it doesn't come on once the car has been driven for awhile. That is what is weird.

[onefunkar]

i appologize to whoever changed it then...sorry. not sure why it would come on.

[1saxman]

Sometimes the OLM algorithim just doesn't work right. The one in my VUE works fine, but the one in my wife's VUE might light anytime after the reset. I just ignore it and reset it when she complains enough about it.

[SaturngirlSc2]

Okay -

So you guys would say I don't need to worry about it right? It is only a oil change light - nothing else?

I checked the oil level and it looked okay.. This just started and I almost have 60k miles on it. I hope this isn't a prelude of things to come that would be hmmmmmmmmmmm... more expensive.

[spencerb]

The light will come on whenever the monitor calculates you need an oil change. It could be during startup or while driving. The light in my VUE has come on while driving. The light isn't that noticeable, so it could have come on before and you just didn't notice it.

Are you SURE it was reset when you got your last oil change? Come to think of it, the only reason the light would come on while driving was that it at that time decided you needed a change, so it seems that it was reset (otherwise it will only come on at startup).

Maybe it was reset and for whatever reason it decided you need another oil change. Have you driven a lot of miles? Different driving conditions that may warrant a sooner oil change?

[WhiteEagle]

Another possibility would be that the shop (assuming non-Saturn) didn't really change the oil but did reset the light. Wouldn't be the first time a shop cut corners or figured a female wouldn't know better (apologies to you).

Just a thought.

[mellissam]

Another possibility would be that the shop (assuming non-Saturn) didn't really change the oil but did reset the light. Wouldn't be the first time a shop cut corners or figured a female wouldn't know better (apologies to you).

Just a thought.

Nope.
The OLM does not physically check the oil to see if it has been changed. Would be nice though. :) Blackstone Lab under the hood! LOL

[twosaturns]

I was out last night driving around, and my oil change lamp came on. Usually if it comes on, it does it when I start the car, hence the concern. It had been driving for over 40 minutes when it came on, and I had my oil change done about a month ago.

It hasn't done it since last night, but just was concerned. Should I be?

Thanks,

Laura

are you SURE it was the oil change light and NOT the oil PRESSURE light?

[1saxman]

I was out last night driving around, and my oil change lamp came on. Usually if it comes on, it does it when I start the car, hence the concern. It had been driving for over 40 minutes when it came on, and I had my oil change done about a month ago.

It hasn't done it since last night, but just was concerned. Should I be?

Thanks,

Laura

I agree that the most likely scenario is that they did not properly reset the OLM. Look in your manual and do it yourself, but hold it down twice as long as they say (if it's the underhood button).