P0298
Engine Oil Over Temperature
Engine oil & cooling
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0298 means the engine-oil temperature has risen above the safe range set by the manufacturer. Overheated oil loses its ability to protect bearings and moving parts, so this code is a warning to stop and address the cause — low oil, a failing oil cooler, or a cooling-system fault — before serious engine damage occurs.
High
Can I keep driving? No — stop driving and let the engine cool; sustained oil over-temperature can cause serious, expensive engine damage.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on, often with a high oil-temperature or temperature warning
- Engine running hotter than normal
- Reduced power (the engine may protect itself)
- Burning-oil smell or thinning oil pressure when very hot
Common causes
Most likely first
- Low oil level or degraded/wrong-grade oilLikely
- Failing or blocked oil coolerCommon
- Clogged oil passages or a restricted oil filterCommon
- Cooling-system problem (low coolant, weak pump, stuck thermostat)Less often
- Heavy/prolonged load, or a faulty oil-temperature sensor reading highLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Stop and let the engine cool before doing anything else.
- Check the oil level and condition; top up or change with the correct grade.
- Verify the reading with a scan tool — confirm the sensor isn't falsely reporting high.
- Inspect the oil cooler and passages for restriction, and check the cooling system. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0298?+
No. Continued driving with genuinely over-temperature oil risks bearing and engine damage. Pull over, let it cool, and diagnose the cause.
Can I just clear P0298?+
Clearing it without fixing the cause is dangerous — the oil can overheat again and damage the engine. Find and fix the root cause first.
Related codes
Often seen with P0298
Read & clear P0298 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX