Does Having An Oil Change Improve Your Car's Performance?

Tight engine tolerances require an excellent lubricant to keep the engine running with minimal friction. As oil picks up debris over time, the debris takes the place of the lubricating factors of oil. The space between the piston rings and the cylinder walls becomes even tighter.

As the space becomes tighter, the engine works harder. If you wait longer than you should for an oil change, you may notice the difference in oil change time vs. mileage. This is especially true if your vehicle has cylinder deactivation.

Overdue Oil Change Symptoms

If you regularly skip changing your motor oil, you might notice the following symptoms:

• Low oil level: If you have an oil leak, you might not catch it before the oil gets too low.
• Dirty oil: Oil should be a coppery gold color when clean. The oil is dirty if it’s dark or black. It might also develop a burned smell if an oil change is overdue.
• Burning oil smell: While this is not necessarily a sign, it means you should bring your vehicle to Little Wolf Automotive in Plover, WI as soon as possible. Most likely, you are smelling oil burning as it drips on the hot engine.
• Lower fuel economy: Depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle, you might notice a drop in fuel efficiency, especially in newer cars and those with cylinder deactivation.
• Overheating: When a vehicle overheats, it’s usually a problem with the cooling system. However, if the oil is dirty, the engine must work harder. The oil could be so dirty that it is causing the engine to work so hard that the cooling system cannot keep up in cooling the engine.
• Warning lights: By the time the oil light comes on, the oil pressure is already so low that you might have done additional damage to the engine.