Your car needs oil to run, simple as that. It’s as important as the fuel you use, and oil keeps the engine lubricated and picks up any impurities, taking them to the filter to keep the engine clean.
But your engine needs you to keep the oil at a certain level and for it to be cleaned and changed regularly to help it perform at its best.
But how do you know when to change the oil? Let’s take a look at a few signs you need an oil change.
Increased Engine Noise on Start Up
One obvious sign you need an oil change is increased engine noise. If you start hearing ticking, tapping, or light knocking sounds, especially on cold starts, your oil might not be doing what it needs to and circulating or cushioning moving parts. Over time, as oil ages, it loses viscosity and protective film strength, and the result is metal components operating with increased friction.
The thing is, these noises can fade as the engine warms up, so you need to listen out for them when the engine is cold, as this is when issues will be more apparent.
Rough Idling or Sluggish Response
When oil is degraded, you get increased internal resistance. And as this friction rises, engines need to work harder, and you will feel this in rough idling, hesitation when pulling away, or slower throttle response during normal driving.
You might feel like your car is “heavier” to drive or less responsive. And early on, the signs will be subtle, but over time, without an oil change, they’ll become more obvious.
Oil Warning Lights or Intermittent Pressure Alerts
Oil warning lights are there to alert you to drops in pressure so you know when your engine is operating below safe levels. Old or contaminated oil will contribute to this problem, as the oil thins with age or sludge forms. And if you have low oil levels, this issue will only be amplified.
Intermittent oil warnings, especially those that appear briefly, randomly, and disappear quickly, are easy to ignore. But if the pressure is fluctuating enough to trigger the alerts, it’s a strong indicator that your oil can no longer maintain stable circulation. At this point, you need an inspection by a professional oil change shop to determine the issue and rectify it before any damage is caused.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
There are a few issues that can impact fuel efficiency, and needing an oil change is one of them. As oil loses its ability to reduce friction in the engine, it’ll need to expend more energy to overcome resistance. And this will show up to you as increased fuel consumption.
The drop, however, will be gradual, and for this reason, it’s easy to miss. But over time, you’ll see the impact, as the increased fuel consumption will be combined with other points mentioned in this post.
Needing an oil change isn’t always obvious, but if it’s missed or overlooked, it can cause real strain on the car and increase the risk of damage and strain when driving. Get your oil checked regularly and ensure you keep on top of servicing to avoid these issues.
Photo by Anna Shvets
