Yes, an oil change can help prevent your car from overheating. However, an overdue oil change is not the only possible cause for an overheating engine. Contact us at Ron’s Auto & RV here in Vancouver, Washington for more information.
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Oil?
When your vehicle’s oil is in good condition, it lubricates the engine and keeps you on the road. However, ignoring the engine oil or postponing an oil change for too long can wreak havoc on your engine parts, resulting in serious damage to your vehicle. You should take your vehicle into a mechanic to ensure you receive the proper oil filter and oil for your vehicle.
Signs Your Car Needs an Oil Change
While we here at Ron’s Auto & RV in Vancouver, Washington recommend that you follow your vehicle’s manufacturer guidelines when it comes to oil changes, there are also symptoms of overdue maintenance to keep a look out for.
Dirty Oil
Clean motor oil is bright amber. Over time, the oil can darken due to the build-up of engine residue. If your vehicle’s oil is dark, almost black, it’s time to change it. You don’t want any of your engine’s moving parts to be damaged by contaminated motor oil.
Tapping Noises
Engine oil doesn’t last forever. If you procrastinate getting an oil change, it’s possible that the oil won’t be able to lubricate your engine properly. In this case, you’ll start to hear strange ticking or tapping noises because the moving parts in the engine aren’t lubricated. Get an oil change from an ASE-certified technician at Ron’s Auto & RV and prevent severe engine damage!
Burnt Oil Smell
If you smell something burning in the passenger cabin while driving, it’s possible that there’s a problem with your oil. You could have an oil leak. To prevent severe damage to your engine or an overheating engine, get an oil change as soon as possible if you notice a burning oil smell.
Blue Exhaust Smoke
If you’re looking for high-quality customer service and one of the best oil change places in Vancouver, WA, call Ron’s Auto & RV today!
While exhaust smoke on its own doesn’t necessarily indicate an issue with your oil, blue exhaust smoke can mean that you have an oil leak. In this case, you need to have an ASE-certified technician at Ron’s Auto & RV look at the vehicle to ensure you don’t have any major problems. Avoid expensive repairs and keep up with a regular maintenance schedule.
Poor Gas Mileage
You may notice that you’re running through fuel much quicker than you used to. This poor fuel economy could be due to an overdue oil change. Dirty or contaminated oil doesn’t lubricate your engine as well, meaning that the moving parts have more resistance. This resistance results in your engine working harder than it should and using more fuel.
Overheating Engine
If you don’t have enough oil or if the oil is contaminated, it can’t lubricate the engine’s moving parts and the cooling system can’t keep up. The engine will eventually overheat if you ignore warning lights and manufacturer guidelines concerning oil changes.
Warning Lights
If your check engine light is on or your vehicle’s dashboard is on, you need to take your car into Ron’s Auto & RV to have an ASE-certified technician take a look at your vehicle and ensure you don’t need a tune-up or an oil change.
How Can Ron’s Auto & RV Help?
All oil changes from Ron’s Auto & RV include a complimentary 25 point service inspection. We do the inspection to ensure that all of your fluids are topped off, and to make sure that there are no other maintenance issues that need to be addressed. We even drive your car to ensure that it is running smoothly in real world conditions. As a convenience to our customers we will provide a copy of our 25 point inspection while their car is being serviced. If there are any pressing issues we will either address them during the oil change service or are we will gladly schedule your car for maintenance on a future date. Come in and see us for your next oil change and enjoy excellent service and ASE Certified Technicians. For your convenience we have provided a list of our 25 point inspection below:
- Road Test
- Warning Lights (Check Engine, ABS, ARS)
- Engine Oil / Level / Leaks
- Transmission Fluid / Leaks
- Front Differential Fluid / Leaks
- Rear Differential Fluid / Leaks
- Transfer Case Fluid / Leaks
- Power Steering Fluid / Leaks
- Brake Fluid
- Clutch Fluid
- Engine Coolant / Visible Leaks
- Belts
- Hoses
- Timing Belt
- Battery Test / Check Terminals
- Tune Up Parts / Fuel Filter
- Air Filter
- Cabin Air Filter
- Wiper Blades / Washer Fluid
- Exterior Bulb Check
- Air Conditioning Operation
- Informal Brake Inspection
- Tire Pressure Check & Tread Depth Check
- Shock / Struts / Suspension