P0298

Engine Oil Over Temperature

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

209

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0298 scans

P0217in 82.8% of scans

P0195in 72.2% of scans

P0335in 71.8% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

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.

Read & clear P0298 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX