If the car says "oil level low" is it dangerous to drive it at all before adding oil?

Do you mean the reading on the dip stick or is there some light that comes on on the dash??
As long as the “OIL PRESSURE” light doesn’t come on, you’re OK to drive for a bit but don’t wait too long.

On the dashboard. Message says “oil level low.”

“Oil level low” doesn’t mean no “oil pressure.” To find the “oil pressure” light, with engine off, turn the key towards the START position (without starting the engine) until all of the dash lights come on. (This is a dash light test mode.) You should see “OIL PRESSURE,” or something to that effect.

I don’t think @janbb is asking about oil pressure.
She’s asking about oil level.

It’s a warning light to add oil. But you should use and rely on the dipstick. In many cars the oil warning light will also be wired to your odometer as a means to let you know it’s time for an oil change. In this case the light will be on for perhaps a minute or 2 after you start the car, then go out. But I’m surprised that your mini cooper does not have an oil pressure gauge prominently displayed in your instrument cluster.

If your oil level is low, you can drive it, but should get to a gas station as soon as possible to add oil.

If the red oil pressure light comes on, stop safely and turn off the engine as quickly as you can.

@stanleybmanly Not the Mini; this is the 2008 Volvo wagon.

If the light burns constantly while the car is running and the light is your only oil related indicator, you should do exactly as zenvelo says. But before you panic, check the dipstick with the engine off. 9 times out of 10 the light will be about low oil levels. But running an engine with no oil pressure will wreck an engine in minutes.

When was your last oil change in miles? If it was 5,000 to 7,500 miles it is time for an oil change. Some auto have a have a light on the dash for a maintenance reminder.

I got a maintenance reminder last week that I ignored so far. Yesterday the low tire pressure light came on and I took it to a gas station to get air in the tires this morning. When I left the gas station, the “oil level low” light came on.

My bet is that the odometer tripped the light, another maintenance reminder. Does the light go out after a few minutes? Do the dipstick Birdie. Be a brave penguin!

Naw – I’ll just go to the gas station and ask them to put oil in. Too cold to play around with dip sticks at the mo.

DOES THE LIGHT GO OUT???

It might not be dangerous to you physically, but it could be dangerous to your wallet.

@stanleybmanly No.

You should at least determine for yourself if your problem is merely low oil. That will determine whether or not you must leave the car at the filling station. Honestly birdie, if you are too timid to check your own oil, any mechanic can sell you a bill of goods. You are reduced to prey!

@stanleybmanly Thanks once again for the lecture, Stan.

Adding oil to the engine when it is full can permanently damage the engine!

Take to s mechanic and get the oil changed.

@Tropical_Willie That’s a good explanation and a plan. I will call my trusty mechanic in the morning and take it in. I had decided that already but was trying to find out if I could drive it a few miles tonight.

A few miles should be okay, traveling to Baltimore not okay.

I had a bad incident happen in the 1977’s when my husband asked me to gas up our old van and he specifically asked me to go onto the highway Gas station a few miles away ?

I should had known that it was a set up by him for me to learn about car maintenance?

I was on the highway and could see the gas station to turn into when people started to honk the horn at me.

I looked into my rear view mirror and was startled to witness a large billowing dark smoke emanating from the exhaust!

It was a scary experience as I had thought that the van itself was on fire!

As I pulled in two service personnel quickly came to my aide and took it under control..they
refueled and added the required number of cans of oil and away I went , much thankful that I didn’t blow up!
It was a nasty way for my ex to teach me how to look after the car/and vans.

It taught me that I should learn of these things myself and forget about relying on him and
this was the first step to my independence on anyone.

Without oil, your engine will die. It’s easy to check the status of oil. Wait until your vehicle, has been not running, for several hours, and check the dip stick. That stick, runs to the oil pool, and will provide the best information. You can check, after driving, but it will give you false information. When the engine has been running, a properly running oil pump, will have oil, still up in the engine.
When the vehicle has stopped running for a few hours, the oil will drip down to the oil pan. Which is where/when you check it…
If you check it, after it’s been running, you will get a false understanding of how much oil you have. As a lot of it, will still be in the engine.
You check your oil, after the engine has stopped working. Unless the “dummy” light comes on…

Since you already started the car, go ahead and drive to the oil-change store. My opinion.

I wouldn’t risk it.

I took three years of auto-tech in high school. One semester we got a engine. My partner and I had to take the engine apart (it had been sabotaged by the teacher), find the problem, and rebuild it. Every bolt and spring was removed and reassembled.

Don’t fuck with oil.

A properly lubed engine will nearly last forever. Sure, there will be minor things like the starter, and plugs that need to be periodically replaced. But those are minor compared to the damage that dirty and low oil levels will do.

I’d get oil added right away. I don’t think I’ve ever had low oil in a car that was 1995 or newer. Maybe it has some sort of leak. I’d watch under your car for oil marks.

You might want to check your manual and see exactly what that warning means.

I always panic when I see it pop up on my dashboard, I would immediately go to the nearest gasoline station to add more.

And you’re smart to panic.The bottom line is that the idiot light is rigged to appear for any of 3 reasons: time for an oil change, low oil levels, or lack of oil pressure. Until you figure out which of the 3 is the problem Running the engine AT ALL is a version of Russian roulette. The dipstick immediately either verifies or eliminates low oil level as a cause. An oil sump down less a quart or should not activate the light, and if the light golds out shortly after you start the car, the odds are that it is merely a chicken shit reminder to change your oil. If the dip stick shows your car isn’t down at least 2 quarts, and the light stays on—call a tow truck.

For those of you who know nothing about cars, there are now cheap diagnostic tools you can plug into your car’s computer port and be told EXACTLY what’s wrong when those warning lights flick on. You can find them online for $25 or less.

@stanleybmanly Or fix and repair cars 65 years ago. Same logic applies only now it is digital !