How to Know When to Get Your Oil Changed |
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Joey Faircloth
March 6, 2014
A car engine's performance is dependent on many factors, and one of the major factors is the engine oil. From using the best quality engine oil to knowing the best time to change the oil, every detail about the car engine oil is of utmost importance in keeping the vehicle performing optimally. The role of oil in car engines cannot be overemphasized as it is responsible for the lubrication and cooling of all internal parts of an automobile engine. This very important role car engine oil plays in maintaining the best engine function and overall efficiency makes the regular changing of engine oil very important to help the engine function smoothly without hitches.
The major problem faced by most car owners when it comes to changing their car engine oil is the fact that they find it hard to determine when the oil should be changed. The truth about changing car engine oil is that the more regular they are changed, the more efficient the engine will be able to perform. Below are some of the major signs to look out for which tells you when your oil needs to be changed.
When the Oil Gets Dirty
Car engine oils are always light in appearance when they are fresh and clean with a dark honey color. As your car engine oil wears and degrades, it tends to darken with time and usage. Old and completely worn engine oil turns pure black overtime. Once you notice the color of your car engine oil has turned black, it is a sure sign that it needs to be changed. Generally, you don't want to wait until it gets pitch black, you want to change it as it progressively gets darker.
When the Oil Level Becomes Low
In most cars like older models with higher mileages, a low oil level is always a sign that the oil is due for change. Most car models consume very low amounts of engine oil through normal car engine operations. When your car engine oil becomes extremely low, it simply shows that the oil has been in use for a very long time and needs to be changed as soon as possible.
Oil Warning Light
Most newer model cars come with oil warning arrows which turn on automatically whenever your car engine oil becomes either very dirty or extremely low. Whenever your oil light comes on, it is a sure sign that the oil needs to be changed as it is no longer suitable for the efficient running of the car engine operations.
Engine Light Warnings
Even with the engine light on, most cars come with the feature that allows their engine light to glow whenever the oil gets either degraded or low. Since the engine light was designed to turn on whenever anything that disturbs the efficient functioning of the engine occurs, the light comes on when the oil level reduces or the oil gets dirty.
Mileage
Most car owner's manual comes with a recommended number of miles which a car must travel before the engine oil is changed. If the stipulated number of mile has been traveled since the last oil change, it is a good time to get the engine oil changed.