The 411 On Oil

Know The Signs Of Poor Oil Health

Every vehicle has its own quirks, noises you’ve become used to, or performance issues that you’ve just found a way to live with. Some of these signs will develop when your vehicle needs maintenance. If your car pulls to one side when you are driving in a straight line, the issue is probably with your wheel alignment. Poor brake health will affect how easily you can slow and maneuver. When your oil health is starting to deteriorate, there are several ways you will start to notice this in the way your car drives.

Sounds: On a basic level, your vehicle’s oil provides lubrication to prevent vital engine parts from rubbing together, creating friction, and causing premature wear and tear. As your oil ages, it is less effective in protecting these parts from grinding together, and you may begin to hear more noise from under the hood.

Smoke: The longer your oil goes unchanged, the more debris it accumulates and the thicker it becomes. Thicker oil will be more likely to overheat and possibly cause smoke.

Smell: Overheating oil also has a distinct smell that you can experience in the passenger cabin of your vehicle. If you’re worried your engine is overheating, or your temperature gauge agrees, pull over as soon as you can do so safely and let your engine cool down.

Sticky: The most effective way to determine your oil health is to check under the hood, using your dipstick to see the condition of your oil. New oil is light and runny, but as it deteriorates, it will become darker and thicker.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms in your vehicle, they may also be accompanied by the trusty Oil Change light on your dashboard. You should address any concerns about your vehicle’s performance as soon as you are able. Running your car on deteriorating oil for too long could lead to drastic overheating and leave you stranded on the side of the road in Oak Lawn.

Whenever you have questions, our technicians at Hi-Tech Auto Specialists are always happy to go over any concerns and offer a recommended plan of repairs.