Do you know what it looks and sounds like when you might have gone too long since your last oil change? There are hints your car starts to give you and Cool Green Auto doesn’t want you to ignore those signs and possibly damage your car’s engine.
You’re Seeing Dashboard Warning Lights
Your car may or may not have a dedicated oil light. If it does, you might see a little light that looks like an oil can when there’s a problem with engine oil. That problem might involve the oil levels being too low or the oil pressure being too low. It could also be your warning that you are overdue for an oil change. If you don’t have a dedicated oil light, it’s possible you’ll see the check engine light. Regardless, don’t ignore dashboard warning lights at all.
You’re Getting Bad Gas Mileage
Have you noticed any changes in your gas mileage? If you’re noticing that your gas mileage is steadily getting worse, there is very likely a reason for it. One of the most common reasons can be that you’ve waited a little longer for your next oil change than you thought you did. Getting your oil changed on schedule helps to protect your car’s engine and keeps it running efficiently, which means it burns fuel efficiently.
You’re Seeing Lots of Exhaust Smoke
When the engine isn’t burning fuel efficiently, you’re going to see that in your car’s gas mileage, of course, but you’re also going to see evidence of that coming out the tailpipe. You’re much more likely to see dark clouds of exhaust smoke pouring out through the exhaust system. Ignoring this sign could eventually lead to bigger problems in the engine.
The Engine Sounds Rough
When you’re familiar with how your car’s engine sounds when it is running well, it’s easier to recognize when the engine is running rough. It usually sounds a lot rougher, and you might even feel vibrations or hear misfires happening. These are signs that your engine is having trouble for some reason and if you’re overdue for an oil change, it’s possible that the oil just hasn’t been able to keep up with the engine’s demands.
Let Cool Green Auto in Shepherdstown, WV help you with all your car’s repair and servicing needs. We can take a closer look at the issues you’re seeing with your car’s engine and let you know what has happened. From there, you’ll know what your car needs going forward.