Oil changes are a simple and inexpensive service that’s important to the efficiency of a car’s operations. Performed regularly, they can also help extend a car engine’s longevity. Unfortunately, many people rely on mileage alone to let them know it’s time to schedule an oil change appointment.  Here is a comprehensive guide to the other warning signs that indicate it’s time for your car’s oil change.

Blinking Oil Change or Check Engine Light

This is the clearest indicator that something is wrong with your car’s engine oil. Both lights will light up if the oil level is low. If your car doesn’t have an oil change light, the check engine light may also blink when your car needs an oil change.

Do a dipstick oil check to confirm the problem. If your oil level is sufficient, change your oil immediately. Alternatively, you can take your car to your mechanic. They will know the exact thing to look out for to confirm if an oil change can resolve this issue, or if it’s a sign of a more severe problem.

In more serious instances, a lit check engine light is a warning sign that your engine is at risk of damage because of a lack of fluid, or damaged parts. Schedule an appointment with your mechanic to be sure.

Dark And Dirty Oil

Clean oil should be a golden-brown color and mostly transparent. Over time, this fluid darkens and gets dirty as it collects particles while running through the engine. If the engine oil is dirty, it causes more wear on the engine’s moving components and clogs up your oil filters.

Moreover, if the oil has lost its transparency, and has turned deep brown or jet black, you’re already past three thousand miles, risking engine failure. You won’t notice the color change if you never check your oil, and rely instead on the odometer.

To know if your car’s engine oil starts to change color, you need to do a visual inspection. To do this, turn the engine off, remove the dipstick from the engine, wipe off the oil with a rag, then put it back in. Pull the dipstick out again, and if you can see the stick through the oil, the fluid is fine, but if it’s thick, dark, and feels grainy, you need to schedule an oil change at a Suwanee auto repair shop immediately.

Louder Engine Noise

Clean oil lubricates the moving components in your car’s engine. This keeps these parts from rubbing against each other and keeps your engine quiet while you drive. A dirty engine oil messes up this lubrication

When the engine oil starts to break down, it no longer lubricates your engine’s moving parts, which then creates metal-on-metal contact between the engine’s components. When this happens, you’ll start to hear the louder engine noise.

If you ignore these increased engine noises, soon, you’ll start to hear rumbling, loud knocks, and even roaring. All of these are telltale signs your vehicle is already in dire need of an oil change.

Burning Smell Inside the Cabin

Aside from lubricating the engine’s components, motor oil also keeps your engine cool, so when it’s not enough, the engine overheats and burns into the exhaust area, which gives off a strong burning odor. This burning smell can also mean an oil leak, an even more severe problem that needs immediate remediation.

An overheating engine can damage your car and even ignite a fire, so if you notice the smell of burnt oil inside your car, schedule maintenance servicing immediately.

Conclusion

By protecting your car’s engine parts from excessive wear and tear, routine oil changes will extend your vehicle’s life, and keep it running in optimal condition. You’ll ultimately avoid expensive repairs, saving you a lot of money. So be aware of the warning signs above that mean your car’s overdue for an oil change.

Make sure your car’s engine doesn’t run on dirty oil and end up suffering from an overdue oil change longer than it should. If you spot any of the warning signs above, make sure to schedule a service appointment right away at your trusted mechanic in Suwanee, like Wayne's Auto.