Driving your European car is a lot of fun, but how long has it been since your oil change? If it isn’t your daily driver, you might have lost track of when you last had it changed. Jackson Auto Repair knows that oil changes can be easy to forget, so here are some signs that your car is overdue for one.
Your Oil Levels Are Low
You are checking your oil every couple of weeks, right? If you are, you’re able to keep an eye on whether there’s less oil in your car’s engine than there should be. That’s important information for you to have, especially when you need to figure out if you need to schedule an oil change.
Your Oil Light Came On
When there’s a problem with your oil, many European car models have an oil light. If that light comes on and stays on, that’s a sign that there’s something going on with your car and it’s related to oil. It’s best to check your oil and get into the shop for an oil change.
Your Gas Mileage Is Pretty Bad
Are you refilling the gas tank more often than you expected? That means that your gas mileage is getting worse. It’s easier to tell when you’re actively tracking the numbers but paying attention to whether you’re there more often tells you what you need to know. Being overdue for an oil change puts strain on the engine, which means it needs to work harder and therefore burns more gas.
There’s a Lot More Exhaust than Usual
Normally you shouldn’t see much exhaust at all unless the temperatures dip low enough. But if you’re noticing white, gray, or black exhaust, that means that something isn’t right with your car’s engine or with the exhaust. Double-check how long it’s been since your last oil change because that’s the likely culprit.
Your Check Engine Light Came On
The oil light will usually show up on your dashboard for an oil issue, but if your car doesn’t have one, you might see the check engine light instead. It’s also important to note that if you ignore the oil change any longer, you might indeed have engine trouble. And that’s something you want to avoid.
You’ve Got an Oil Leak
Check underneath the car, too. If you’re seeing a puddle of oil, that’s a sign that you’ve got an oil leak somewhere. The issue could be your oil filter if it’s been a really long time since you had the oil changed. Debris clogs the oil filter and then there’s nowhere for the oil to go.
Need to get your European car back on a solid oil change schedule? We can help at Jackson Auto Repair in Jackson, TN. Give us a call and we can get your car’s oil changed and get you back to driving happily.