Things happen, and sometimes that means that your car’s needs get overlooked for a little while. Lots of folks have been overdue for an oil change, but if you let that go too long, you can develop bigger issues. Here’s what Keeton Auto Repair wants you to know about symptoms that you might see if you’re overdue for an oil change.
Your Car’s Engine Doesn’t Sound So Good
Are you hearing a lot more knocks and pings than you normally do? Or maybe your car’s engine just sounds rougher than usual. These are signs that can show up when you’ve skipped an oil change. It happens because the oil in the engine is dirty and is breaking down, which makes it less able to do its job.
You’re Seeing a Lot of Exhaust Smoke
Another problem you might see is that you’ve got a lot more exhaust smoke than usual. Depending on the time of year, you shouldn’t really be able to see the exhaust at all. Dark exhaust, and especially a lot of it, is an indication that your car’s engine is struggling.
Your Gas Mileage Is Awful
A big symptom of the struggling your car’s engine is doing shows up also in gas mileage. The harder the engine works, the less efficient it is with fuel. That translates to you heading to the gas station more often and spending more on putting gas in the car.
The Oil Light Is On
Make sure that you get familiar with the gauges and lights on your car’s dashboard. If there’s an oil pressure gauge, that can let you know some valuable information. Most cars at least have an oil light that comes on when there’s a problem with the engine oil. If you do see that light, you need to get the car looked at right away.
Worst Yet, the Check Engine Light Is On
If your car’s check engine light is on, you might be way overdue for an oil change. Any time that you see this light, it means that there’s a problem somewhere that affects engine performance. It’s important that you don’t put off getting this situation checked, even if you’re worried it will be an expensive repair, because the problem might be as simple as getting an oil change.
Don’t worry if you’re a little bit overdue for an oil change. Keeton Auto Repair in Overland Park, KS can help. Give us a call to schedule an appointment and we’ll have you in and out in no time at all.
