Signs Your Car Needs an Oil Change
Oil changes may seem like a necessary evil, but they’re necessary for keeping your engine in excellent shape. Going beyond your manufacturer’s recommended oil change interval might not seem like a big deal – at least until you end up with a steep towing bill and an even steeper repair bill.
Looking up and following the recommended service intervals in your vehicle owner’s manual is the best way of keeping up with oil changes. But there are a few other ways to tell if your car needs a fresh change of fluids.
Warning Lights and Messages
In most cases, your first sign that your car needs an oil change comes from the information display on the dashboard. These days, your car can help you keep up with regular service through helpful on-screen reminders. For instance, a scheduled reminder of your next oil change.
On older cars, you may see the “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light appear if your car needs an oil change. There’s also a dedicated oil light on the dashboard, but this is typically used if your car loses oil pressure or if there’s not enough oil in the engine. Either way, you should see your dealer ASAP if this light appears.
Darkened Oil
Crack open a fresh bottle of engine oil and you’ll notice the oil has a very light, almost honey-like color and texture. However, it’ll turn darker as it circulates through your engine, experiences constant wear, and picks up grime and other particles.
Eventually, your oil will turn dark enough to warrant a drain and refill. That’s because the various detergents and lubricants that make up your engine oil are likely worn out. Here’s a quick primer on when to change your oil based on its color:
• If your oil looks brownish and/or has lots of particles in it, then it’s time to visit your local dealer for an oil change.
• If your oil looks pitch black, then it’s definitely past time to get an oil change. Your engine oil is thoroughly worn out and, if used past this point, could potentially cause engine damage.
• If your oil has a sludge-like consistency or has metal sparkles in it, then…an oil change is the least of your worries. Chances are you’ve waited too long and now there’s engine damage lurking within. Nevertheless, you should head over to your dealer to have your engine checked out.
Excessive Exhaust Smoke
Thanks to continuing advances in modern emissions technology, smoky cars are a thing of the past. Nevertheless, skipping out on oil changes can potentially bring that smoke back in a big way.
Sometimes, this smoke also comes with a burnt, oily odor, along with a blue or black tinge. These issues usually point to oil that’s somehow gotten into the combustion chamber, usually due to worn piston rings or a leaky gasket. Waiting too long between oil changes can cause these wear issues, which in turn produces the smoky exhaust.
Increased Fuel Consumption
There are many issues that could cause your car’s fuel economy to suddenly go south, with worn-out oil being one of them. The old oil might be too worn out to lubricate parts properly, resulting not just in more wear and tear, but also poorer fuel economy due to increased heat and wear.
If your car’s fuel economy is in the proverbial toilet, then an oil change could help bring those fuel efficiency numbers back up where they belong.
Knocking and Ticking Sounds
All engines make noise, but some noises can be more worrying than others. Take knocking and ticking, for instance. These noises usually signal the coming of impending doom for your engine. In the case of engine oil, however, knocking and ticking can happen if you don’t have your oil changed in time.
As mentioned before, dirty engine oil is also oil that doesn’t lubricate parts properly. A lack of proper lubrication equals more wear and tear on parts, which in turn equals unwanted ticking and knocking noises.
If you hear any ticking or light knocking, then consider having your engine checked out by a certified and factory-trained technician. Having your oil changed regularly can help stop these noises in its tracks.