Understanding dashboard gauges and messages is second nature to many drivers. But to others, those lights and dials communicate in an unfamiliar language. One uninitiated driver recently guessed at what a dashboard gauge was trying to tell them. They may have destroyed their engine in the process. In a Facebook Reel that’s generated over 276,00 views as of this writing, Just Rolled In (@justrolledin) reviews that a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer came in with oil life at 1% and what the customer did to try to fix it. "Customer states vehicle won’t start," the video begins. "The customer said the oil percentage reached 1%. So, they added 99% of the engine oil capacity, which is almost five quarts," Just Rolled In continues. A technician was shocked to see how much oil was in the Trailblazer. "The technician drained almost ten quarts of engine oil," the mechanic reveals. However, refilling with the appropriate amount of engine oil didn’t solve everything. "It still doesn’t start," the creator says. They now speculate that the engine is hydrolocked. "I Got 99 Problems But Low Engine Oil Ain’t One" The commenters chimed in with snarky and humorous remarks. "Let's guess, the owner got a college degree," one TikTok commenter said. "I got 99 problems but low engine oil ain’t one," another joked. While other commenters were more understanding of the Trailblazer owner's thought process. "If you don’t know mechanical ways. Seeing 1%, in an odd way, is logically sound," one said. "Hey at least he didn’t add wesson oil! Give the guy a C for trying!!" another commented. "I believe this. Just a few days ago I had to explain to a customer that that number doesn't represent how much oil is in the car and that it's also based on new condition specs so with his car being over 10 years old he shouldn't go by that number at all to decide when to change the oil," a third shared. What Happens If You Overfill Oil? Oil plays a significant role in your vehicle's operation and helps the car run smoothly. Routine oil maintenance prolongs the engine's life while reducing emissions, improving fuel economy, and overall performance, J.D. Power reports. However, overfilling your oil can cause severe damage. Though your car needs oil to run smoothly, too much can mess things up. Overfilling your engine oil can lead to repairs costing in the thousands, Zeigler Auto Group reports. "If an excess of oil floods into your vehicle's crankshaft, the rotation speed of the crankshaft begins to aerate the oil," per Ziegler. This leads to the oil foaming like whipped cream, which impacts oil flow through the engine and can even stop flow entirely. This makes the engine hot and causes loss of oil pressure. When the engine doesn’t get proper oil lubrication, it can seize up entirely. Another thing to consider is that the extra oil creates added pressure inside the engine and will try to escape through gaskets and seals. If this occurs, leaks will result, leading to costly repairs, J.D. Power reports. The worst-case scenario for overfilling the engine with oil is a hydrolocked engine, an expert on PistonHeads explained. How Do You Get Rid Of Excess Oil? First, it’s important to know the symptoms of too much engine oil. According to Cars.com, these are the main symptoms to look out for: Oil is frothing Oil-pressure warning goes off Any ticking sound coming from the engine As we now know the dangers of excess oil in engines, it’s best to address it immediately to avoid further damage. To remove excess oil, two things can be done, Cars.com reports. One way is to drain the oil through the oil pan's drain hole. The other way is to get a hand siphon pump that fits into the dipstick tube. If this feels above your pay grade, any mechanic or a local dealership technician can help remove the excess oil. What Does Oil Life Percentage Indicate? Now, understanding oil life percentage may not be as intuitive as you may think. According to Napa, the oil life percentage reflects the amount of time left in the current oil in your engine and its condition. This percentage indicates the optimal protection time remaining in the oil rather than the amount of oil in the engine, as the TikTok customer thought. This percentage is determined by miles driven, time, the vehicle's environment, weather, and driving habits. Now, this number is an estimate, but it's definitely helpful in knowing when to change the oil. So, when the oil life percentage gets low, it’s best to drain it out completely instead of adding more oil. "Do not add oil. You are not running low, it is just worn out. Overfilling can damage the engine. Cars do the percentage by the time it was last reset, not by actual oil life," one Reddit mechanic shared. Additionally, one Honda driver shared his confusion about the oil life percentage. "Noob question: computer say 15% oil life, but, dip stick shows full oil," they ask. "Oil life indicator has nothing to do with oil level. It is a computer generated calculation based on how you drive (i.e. number of cold starts, number of operating hours, miles traveled, etc.) If you do not reset the oil life monitor after an oil change, it will not know that you changed the oil. There is no actual sensor that monitors the condition of the oil either," one answered. Motor1 has contacted Just Rolled In via Instagram and Facebook direct message. The story will be updated if we get a reply. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team