5 Warning Signs You Need an Oil Change

Posted March 30, 2022

Ensuring that the oil in your car is clean and at the proper level is crucial. Most car manufacturers recommend an oil change between 5,000 and 7,500…. and in some cases as long as 10,000 miles. This usually translates to about 6 or 12 months. Here are five warning signs that you need to change your oil.

Dark and Dirty Oil

It’s crucial to have clean oil in your car at all times. Clean oil is an amber color. As the mileage increases, the oil in your car will start getting dark, and it gets dirtier due to all the particles it collects from the engine. You need to check the oil in your car monthly using the dipstick from your engine. If you start noticing the oil turning thick and darker, you need to visit the car repair shop and schedule an oil change.

Louder Engine Noise and Knocking

Clean oil creates a thin protective layer between the parts in your engine to stop metal-on-metal contact. This is what keeps your engine quiet as your car is moving. However, when the oil breaks down, its ability to lubricate starts diminishing. As a result, engine noises will start getting louder. This is a sign that you need an oil change.

Oil Change or Check Engine Light

This is one of the most obvious signs that you need an oil change. Once you see an illuminated oil change light on your vehicle’s dashboard, you need to visit a car repair shop and get an oil change. This light lets you know that your car is at high risk of engine damage.

Exhaust Smoke

It’s normal to see a bit of vapor coming from your exhaust when it’s cold. However, if you start noticing smoke, you need to check your oil. This is a sign that there might be an oil leak in your engine.

Oil Smell Inside the Cabin

Under normal circumstances, you should never smell oil inside the cabin. Once this starts happening, you need to visit a car repair shop and get your engine checked out. This could be a sign that there is an oil leak somewhere.

Apart from all the signs above, you must watch your mileage. While the old standard for oil changes used to be 3 months or 3,000 miles, modern engines and oil technology have allowed us to extend that to 5,000 miles or longer. Contact us today if you need an oil change or have any questions about the right time to change oil in your particular vehicle at (303) 347-1010.

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