7 Signs You Need an Oil Change
Out of all of the components that make a vehicle move, oil is one of the most important. There are no way engine parts can move the way they need to without the added lubrication oil brings. It reduces friction and keeps everything operating as smoothly as possible.
Even though the oil plays such a crucial role, maintaining proper oil levels and changing it out often fall to the bottom of your car maintenance list. This can lead to serious problems, even complete engine failure if you're not careful.
In order to avoid that from happening, watch for these signs you need an oil change and then make it happen as fast as possible. The better you keep up with your oil maintenance, the better your car will run!
1. Excessive Vibrations in Idle
In an ideal situation, your car won't have any additional movement or vibration as you drive it down the road. This obviously isn't realistic because most cars have at least some vibration, especially on certain types of roads.
That is completely normal and nothing to worry about. It's when the vibration starts to be different than usual, whether that be in intensity or where it seems to be coming from, that you should start to get curious about what's going on. Excess vibration can mean that there is too much friction within the engine and parts aren't moving how they should.
Changing your oil out can resolve the issue fast without having to replace any parts!
2. Unusual Noises While Driving
Similarly, as you drive your car, you'll become well acquainted with the noises that it most often makes. Most of the time you start to not even notice them and they fade into the background.
This makes it obvious when a new sound starts and gives you a clear message that something has changed. Those changes should always be investigated, even if you think it's probably nothing. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to how your car is functioning.
Chances are that the new noise can be resolved with a simple fix like getting an oil change!
3. Obnoxious Burning Smells
Another clear sign that you need to investigate chaining your oil is an obvious burning smell any time you drive. Once you've smelled burning oil, you'll know exactly the smell when it starts in your vehicle.
You'll start to have that distinct smell when the oil becomes so polluted that it can't keep the engine clean. Instead of moving through efficiently, it will start to get stuck in other areas of the engine. As that heats up during driving, it will start to burn off. Changing the oil out for new, clean oil should give you your fresh engine smell back.
4. Jerking When Shifting Gears
In order to most effectively be able to drive your vehicle, you need to be able to shift gears. This is what allows you to drive at different speeds and customize how the engine is operating. Most of the time, you can't even tell when the gears have shifted when a car is functioning.
When the oil isn't lubricating very well, the gears will have a very hard time switching and shifting. You'll feel a tugging or jerking sensation when you try. Letting this go on for too long will always end up being a costly mistake, so get the oil changed fast!
5. Oil Looks Sludgy
Even if you never plan on doing it yourself and always search for an "oil change near me" to get the job done, it's important to know what good oil is supposed to look like.
This way if you suspect there might be an issue or that the tank is too low, you can take a look and get a clear idea of what's going on. Your oil shouldn't look dirty or be thick in consistency at all. Those are both indicators that it's been too long and you don't have the best oil in your vehicle anymore.
6. Maintenance Schedule Timeline
It's easy to forget about taking good care of your car. Typically, you're hopping in and out of it and not really thinking too much about how it's running. This is why it's so important to set up a clear maintenance schedule.
This schedule should include all of the basic tasks that need to get done every year in order to keep your car running as long as possible. A timeline will also help you avoid missing major tasks, like changing oil, that need to be done on a regular basis.
7. Increased Driven Miles
A maintenance schedule is a great way to stay on top of these things but it's also important to take into consideration your driving patterns and habits.
There may come a period of your life where you're driving more than normal. If that's the case, it's important to change the oil more frequently than if you were only driving the car occasionally. This is a great thing to bring up to your professional mechanic to get some insight into the best way to take care of your car in the long run.
Tell-Tale Signs You Need an Oil Change
The best way to care for your car is to pay close attention to how it's operating and keep an eye on potential issues as they crop up. This will allow you to quickly see the signs you need an oil change so you can remedy the problem before it escalates.
When you notice one of these signs cropping up, get in to see your mechanic as fast as possible. They'll be able to get your vehicle squared away and ready to go. It's especially helpful when you have a trusted mechanic already in place for occasions such as these to help you feel confident everything is going to be working right.
Our team has the knowledge and skills necessary to keep your car in tip-top shape. If you need any work done on your vehicle, contact us today to schedule an appointment!
Out of all of the components that make a vehicle move, oil is one of the most important. There are no way engine parts can move the way they need to without the added lubrication oil brings. It reduces friction and keeps everything operating as smoothly as possible.
Even though the oil plays such a crucial role, maintaining proper oil levels and changing it out often fall to the bottom of your car maintenance list. This can lead to serious problems, even complete engine failure if you're not careful.
In order to avoid that from happening, watch for these signs you need an oil change and then make it happen as fast as possible. The better you keep up with your oil maintenance, the better your car will run!
1. Excessive Vibrations in Idle
In an ideal situation, your car won't have any additional movement or vibration as you drive it down the road. This obviously isn't realistic because most cars have at least some vibration, especially on certain types of roads.
That is completely normal and nothing to worry about. It's when the vibration starts to be different than usual, whether that be in intensity or where it seems to be coming from, that you should start to get curious about what's going on. Excess vibration can mean that there is too much friction within the engine and parts aren't moving how they should.
Changing your oil out can resolve the issue fast without having to replace any parts!
2. Unusual Noises While Driving
Similarly, as you drive your car, you'll become well acquainted with the noises that it most often makes. Most of the time you start to not even notice them and they fade into the background.
This makes it obvious when a new sound starts and gives you a clear message that something has changed. Those changes should always be investigated, even if you think it's probably nothing. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to how your car is functioning.
Chances are that the new noise can be resolved with a simple fix like getting an oil change!
3. Obnoxious Burning Smells
Another clear sign that you need to investigate chaining your oil is an obvious burning smell any time you drive. Once you've smelled burning oil, you'll know exactly the smell when it starts in your vehicle.
You'll start to have that distinct smell when the oil becomes so polluted that it can't keep the engine clean. Instead of moving through efficiently, it will start to get stuck in other areas of the engine. As that heats up during driving, it will start to burn off. Changing the oil out for new, clean oil should give you your fresh engine smell back.
4. Jerking When Shifting Gears
In order to most effectively be able to drive your vehicle, you need to be able to shift gears. This is what allows you to drive at different speeds and customize how the engine is operating. Most of the time, you can't even tell when the gears have shifted when a car is functioning.
When the oil isn't lubricating very well, the gears will have a very hard time switching and shifting. You'll feel a tugging or jerking sensation when you try. Letting this go on for too long will always end up being a costly mistake, so get the oil changed fast!
5. Oil Looks Sludgy
Even if you never plan on doing it yourself and always search for an "oil change near me" to get the job done, it's important to know what good oil is supposed to look like.
This way if you suspect there might be an issue or that the tank is too low, you can take a look and get a clear idea of what's going on. Your oil shouldn't look dirty or be thick in consistency at all. Those are both indicators that it's been too long and you don't have the best oil in your vehicle anymore.
6. Maintenance Schedule Timeline
It's easy to forget about taking good care of your car. Typically, you're hopping in and out of it and not really thinking too much about how it's running. This is why it's so important to set up a clear maintenance schedule.
This schedule should include all of the basic tasks that need to get done every year in order to keep your car running as long as possible. A timeline will also help you avoid missing major tasks, like changing oil, that need to be done on a regular basis.
7. Increased Driven Miles
A maintenance schedule is a great way to stay on top of these things but it's also important to take into consideration your driving patterns and habits.
There may come a period of your life where you're driving more than normal. If that's the case, it's important to change the oil more frequently than if you were only driving the car occasionally. This is a great thing to bring up to your professional mechanic to get some insight into the best way to take care of your car in the long run.
Tell-Tale Signs You Need an Oil Change
The best way to care for your car is to pay close attention to how it's operating and keep an eye on potential issues as they crop up. This will allow you to quickly see the signs you need an oil change so you can remedy the problem before it escalates.
When you notice one of these signs cropping up, get in to see your mechanic as fast as possible. They'll be able to get your vehicle squared away and ready to go. It's especially helpful when you have a trusted mechanic already in place for occasions such as these to help you feel confident everything is going to be working right.
Our team has the knowledge and skills necessary to keep your car in tip-top shape. If you need any work done on your vehicle, contact us today to schedule an appointment!
