There are three things stopping people from getting their cars’ oil changed in a timely manner. The first is necessity. You do not always need your oil changed. The second is finances. The cashflow is not always there. But the third and most important one is intent.
Sadly, intent is usually obscured behind procrastination. Few people know the importance of an oil change, just as few people know the specific value of each vitamin that their body needs. To foster a more deliberate approach to maintenance, Collins Auto Care developed this guide for the signs your car needs an oil change.
It has been 5,000 Miles or More Since Your Last Oil Change
This is the easiest way to tell if you need an oil change. In general, this is the best way to maintain your car since it means that you are keeping track of it without having to get super educated on what the exact inner workings of the car are. Rather than learn all that, just trust in the number.
The reason this is a good idea is because this number is not pulled out of thin air but decided on by the people who built the car. Not everyone trusts the word of the “experts” that car manufacturers tell you to trust but remember: The people who built the car and the people who sold the car are both very different people.
A Burning Smell in Your Car’s Cabin
This sign will probably not escape you, and you will probably be able to surmise that it means trouble. Just what kind of trouble, however, is not always clear. The engines of cars are always exploding, they bodies of cars are always sitting under the heat, and the tires of cars are burning rubber on road. Which smell is which?
This smell will smell like a propane grill has been left on. As with that smell, this smell is also toxic, although you would have to breathe it in for a while for it to pose any danger to you. Get it sorted out by changing your oil quickly and you should be fine. Do not wait for things to get worse than this smell though.
Your Engine is Making Strange Noises
This is another one that you will surely notice but can be unsure of the cause. The noises to be on the look out for here are noises of grinding or straining. In particular you will hear these noises when slowing down and speeding up. They might be accompanied by a shudder in your steering wheel, but not always.
The reason for this is that this noise is the noise of your engine working against itself to speed up and slow down. Oil allows the components of the engine to glide over each other, but once that oil is dry those same parts will instead grind against each other.
Getting your oil changed is a literal chore, but hopefully now you have a better time figuring out when it needs to happen. Stay safe, and call Collins Auto Care if you have any issues.
