What is the oil symbol?
There isn't a single universal "oil symbol." The most widely used references are West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude futures, typically shown as CL for WTI and BRN or BZ=F for Brent on major data feeds.
Oil markets rely on several standard symbols depending on the asset type and data provider. Below is a concise guide to the main benchmarks and related tickers you may encounter when tracking prices or trading products tied to crude oil.
Key crude oil benchmarks and their symbols
The two core benchmarks are WTI and Brent futures. The exact symbol you use can vary by exchange and data feed, but these are the most common anchors today.
- WTI Crude futures (West Texas Intermediate) — Primary contract on the NYMEX/CME. Symbol: CL; continuous front-month quotes are often shown as CL=F on major data platforms (e.g., Yahoo Finance).
- Brent Crude futures — Primary contract on ICE. Symbol: BRN (used on ICE); many platforms display Brent as BZ=F (Brent Crude Futures) or BRNT depending on the data provider.
Understanding these symbols will let you follow the two most widely referenced crude prices, though individual platforms may offer spot prices or additional codes for different contract months.
Oil-related investment symbols
For investors seeking exposure without trading futures directly, several exchange-traded products use tickers that track crude prices. The following are common examples you may see on major exchanges.
- USO — United States Oil Fund (NYSE Arca); aims to track crude oil prices via WTI futures exposure.
- UCO — ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (NYSE Arca); provides leveraged exposure to crude oil futures.
- SCO — ProShares UltraShort Crude Oil (NYSE Arca); inverse leveraged exposure to crude oil futures.
Be aware that futures-based ETFs can roll contracts and incur other tracking differences, so consult the fund's prospectus for details on roll methodology and fees.
Summary
Oil symbols vary by asset class and data source. CL (WTI) and BRN/BZ=F (Brent) are the core references, while funds like USO, UCO, and SCO offer trader-friendly exposure. Always verify the exact symbol on your data platform and understand whether you’re looking at futures, spot prices, or an ETF before trading or investing.
What does the oil symbol mean?
The oil symbol on a car's dashboard can mean two things, depending on its color: a red oil can indicates a critical low oil pressure problem that requires you to stop the engine immediately, while a yellow or amber "oil change" light is a reminder that it's time for routine maintenance like an oil change. A red light warns of potential severe engine damage if ignored, whereas a yellow light is less urgent but still needs to be addressed soon.
Red oil can symbol
- What it means: The engine has critically low oil pressure. This is a serious issue that could cause catastrophic engine damage if you keep driving.
- Possible causes: Severely low oil levels, a malfunctioning oil pump, or a blockage in the lubrication system.
- What to do: Pull over as soon as it is safe, turn off the engine, and have the vehicle towed to a mechanic. Do not continue driving.
Yellow or amber "oil change" symbol
- What it means: Your car's oil life monitoring system has calculated that it's time for a routine oil change.
- Possible causes: Your car is approaching its maintenance interval based on mileage, driving conditions, and other factors.
- What to do: Check your owner's manual for specific instructions, but you should schedule an oil change as soon as possible. You can often check your oil level with the dipstick to ensure it's not also low, which would be a separate issue.
Which symbol is engine oil?
The oil light looks like an old-fashioned oil can, often with a drip coming from the spout. It can appear in different colors: red indicates a serious issue like low oil pressure that requires immediate action, while an orange or yellow light may signify a less urgent problem like low oil level or a need for an oil change.
Common variations of the oil light
- Red oil pressure light: An oil can symbol that is red, sometimes with "OIL" or "low oil pressure" text, signals a critical problem. Driving with this light on can cause severe engine damage.
- Yellow/orange oil level light: Some cars have a separate light that is yellow or orange and features an oil can with wavy lines underneath it. This indicates the engine oil level is low and needs to be topped off.
- Oil temperature light: A red light with an oil can and a thermometer icon above it indicates that the oil is overheating.
How long can you drive with an oil symbol?
Even driving for a few minutes can cause severe damage in many cases. If the light comes on, pull over safely, turn off the engine, and check the oil level. Continuing to drive could lead to costly or irreparable engine failure.
Is oil life 50% ok?
For example, if you got your oil changed, drove 2500 miles and it indicates 50%, you have about another 2500 miles before you oil needs to be changed again. 50% FULL means your oil is really low, like dangerously low, and needs to be filled up.
