Knowing when your car needs an oil change can be a bit of challenge, especially if you're not a car person. This post can help you understand how your car tells you it's ready for an oil change.

How Your Car Tells You It's Ready for an Oil Change

If you're not a car expert, you may have a difficult time knowing how often to change your vehicle's oil. There is no one size fits all rule when it comes to oil changes since there are many factors that can affect your oil's condition. Your car does, however, let you know when it's ready for some new oil. To know what signs to look out for, continue reading.

Black Smoke

If you've noticed that your car sometimes expels white vapor from its exhaust pipe, there really isn't much to worry about. This is quite common, especially during the colder months of the year. However, if you notice black smoke escaping from your exhaust pipe, then you have reason for concern. Dark smoke can indicate there is an issue with your motor oil. This could mean your oil is leaking among a number of other oil and fuel related issues. If you haven't gotten an oil change in a significant amount of time, this could also be the result of your oil burning off. Either way, be sure to get your car inspected so that you can get this issue resolved before incurring any serious damage.

Louder Than Usual Engine

Engine noises aren't always something to worry about, especially if they're part of your car's everyday function. When you should start to worry, however, is when your car starts to make new noises or when the normal noises become louder. You may wonder why this is. The most basic explanation is that your motor is composed of lots of small metal parts that work together to keep your car moving. Your oil acts as a lubricant between these metal parts in order to keep things moving efficiently. Once your oil is old and no longer able to lubricate your engine parts properly, these are left exposed and are more susceptible to damaging metal-to-metal contact. If you start to hear grinding, rumbling, roaring, or knocking going on under your hood, this may be due to old oil. To prevent any new damage, simply get your oil changed. To keep your engine protected well for longer, be sure to get a synthetic oil change in Austin. To learn more about the benefits of using a synthetic oil, contact the experts at Syntex Lubricants. Give them a call at  (512) 848- 8240 for the best AMSOIL Oil recommendations. You can also shop their full range of products by visiting their online shop.

Dirty Oil

An easy way to know if it's time for an oil change is by looking at your oil. Before you inspect it, be sure you know what to look for. To start, clean oil that still works will likely be black or a very dark color, so don't change your oil simply because it's black. What you need to keep an eye out for are particles in your oil. Dirty oil will have dirt and other contaminants floating through it because the oil filter is no longer able to trap these. If your oil is quite thick and opaque, this can also mean it's ready to be changed. New oil is usually a slightly translucent and brown liquid. Over time, it will get darker and thicker until it needs to be replaced. To check the condition of your oil, start by removing the oil dipstick. Clean this off with a clean rag and place it back in its place. Pull it out once more and inspect the oil. If needed, put a bit of oil on your fingertips to check its consistency. Check out these tips to make checking your oil easier.

A Few Other Signs

There are a few other signs that indicate your car needs new oil, but these may be harder to catch. To start, if you have an older model car, the check engine light may turn on when your car needs an oil change. Newer model cars have their own indicator light for this which makes knowing when to schedule your oil change much easier. If your oil level has dropped, this may be the result of an oil leak or simply old oil that has been consumed over time. If you smell oil in your cabin, it can be the result of old oil burning off. Whatever the case is, don't ignore these signs! Doing so can result in significant engine damage.

The Best Synthetic Oil Change in Austin

If it's time for your next oil change, make it a synthetic oil change. Contact Syntex Lubricants at (512) 848- 8240 to find all of the products you need to change your oil yourself.