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How To Know It's Time For An Oil Change

It is very important to make regular oil change in order to keep your car engine in top shape. Knowing when to change your engine oil is crucial to ensure potential problems are avoided before hand because, not only are they needed to prevent friction and ware of metal parts in the engine, but they also function to clean metal surfaces, neutralize acids to prevent corrosion, keep impurities from damaging the engine and even function to dissipate heat from important areas.
Having said this, if your car shows any of these 5 signs listed below, it is most likely due for an oil change.

  1.  Dark/Dirty Engine Oil

    A clean motor oil is amber (honey brown) in color, but it gets darker with frequent use,, which is a sign that it is no longer useful. You can check the state of your car engine oil by using the dip stick to determine the consistency as well as the level of the oil, to know if it needs to be topped off.

  2. Loud Knocking Engine Noise

    Fresh oil creates a thin barrier between engine parts to protect them from friction and keeps your engine quiet when driving. However, when the fluid starts to breakdown due to heat and other conditions, the oil doesn't lubricate the parts so well, which results in a loud cranking noise.
    If you happen to notice this unusual engine noise, it's your car trying to let you know it is in dire need for an oil change.

  3. Burning Smell

    A burning smell often arises when a car is overdue for an oil change, which could cause the engine to overheat, hence the smell. It doesn't take an expert mechanic to know that an overheating engine means bad news and could damage your car, even start a fire.
    If you do notice this burning smell inside your car, you need to get an oil change right away.

  4. Exhaust Smoke

    It is usual to see translucent vapor coming out your car tailpipe, however, if you notice smoke being emitted, check your oil level to know if it needs a top up.
    Such problem often occur due to an oil leak or faulty engine parts.

  5. Excessive Mileage

    If you find yourself refueling your car more often than usual, it probably means your engine is working too hard because it's not properly lubricated.
    So, having an oil change at this point can improve your fuel economy thereby saving time and money.

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