Signs You Need an Oil Change

When you’re cruising along those Bloomington, Ellettsville, and Bedford streets, the last thing that you want to worry about is a clunky performance, or worse, a failing engine. One of the easiest ways to keep these things from happening is to keep your car filled with fresh, clean oil.

How do you know when it’s time to get your oil changed? What exactly are the signs that an oil change is due? Check out this article that walks you through the signs, and what to do when the time comes around.

 

The Top Signs You Need an Oil Change 

Motor oil is what keeps your car going, what allows the engine to move freely and what insulates it from the damage of friction and heat. It’s a lubricant, a cleaning agent, and a temperature moderator all in one. Without it, a lot of crucial parts will start to deteriorate.

Fortunately, as soon as the oil goes bad, your car with start sending you a number of different signs. These are just five of the most prevalent.

1. Dashboard lights

One of the first indicators that your oil needs to be changed should appear in the form of a dashboard light. This could be either the oil light, which looks like an oil can, or the check engine light, which looks like an engine in profile. These lights may come on just to let you know that the oil level in your engine has depleted dangerously.

2. Dirty-looking oil

Have you ever looked at the color of fresh oil? It’s definitely not black, contrary to popular belief. Healthy and fresh motor oil is actually supposed to be a clear amber color. Motor oil only turns black after it’s picked up debris and dirt from the powertrain. Black oil is considerably less effective, as it’s filled with contaminants, dirt, and sludge picked up as it travels through the engine. To check it, take the dipstick out of your engine while the car is turned off, wipe it off, and then stick it back in to get a clear read on color and levels.

3. The engine is knocking 

Once again, engine oil is a lubricant. In fact, that’s its primary function in your engine: it helps the parts to move smoothly and prevents them from rubbing or knocking against each other. When your oil is low, the parts may start to grind or knock. The sound will be loud enough that you can even hear it inside of the cabin.

4. The cabin smells like oil

Oil is an undeniable scent. It’s pungent and may also be mixed with gas or fumes. To put it simply, it’s headache-inducing. This smell actually means that oil is burning in your engine, which presents a huge hazard. Your engine may be on its way to overheating, or even setting flame.

5. Black exhaust smoke

Around the same time that you smell that oil in your cabin, you might notice some odd-looking and thick exhaust smoke. That’s because when oil starts to burn, it will be expelled through your exhaust system through the tailpipe. This can impair road visibility, among others dangers.

Schedule Your Oil Change at Andy Mohr Honda

Now that you know the signs that you need an oil change, you may also better understand the dangers. Allowing your car to run with bad oil can harm both the vehicle and yourself. When Bloomington, Ellettsville, and Bedford drivers need fresh oil for their car, they can always contact the service center at Andy Mohr Honda. Give us a call to schedule your oil change today!