Signs that your car needs an oil change

An oil change keeps your car's engine running smoothly. Rough idle, slow acceleration and engine noise mean you need to change your car oil.

Is your car feeling sluggish? Is your engine noisy? Do you have low oil pressure and/or is the oil light on? You most likely need an oil change, but even if you don't experience some of the most obvious symptoms of dirty oil, your car may still need it.

Here are the main signs that your car needs an oil change. If you notice any of these, contact an oil change shop such as Jiffy Lube or an experienced auto mechanic.

Car makes a ticking sound when starting

When your engine is running, it continuously pumps oil through the crankcase and cylinder heads, and after a while, that once-golden fresh oil becomes dirty and fouled from overheating and wear. Dirty oil tends to be more viscous and therefore more difficult to move. This means that there is a good chance that you can hear some valve train noise in the form of a tick when starting up. This is because dirty oil takes longer to circulate through the engine to lubricate the moving valve mechanism.

Vehicle idle is uneven

Another side effect of dirty oil can be rough idle, in which the engine seems to be shaking the car more than usual. The reason for this is the increase in friction between pistons, rings and bearings.

Vehicle has sluggish acceleration

A well-lubricated engine runs smoothly, so when the oil inside gets old and dirty, it can't also lubricate the moving parts, and as a result, it won't be able to run as smoothly as it normally would. This means that acceleration may be sluggish and engine power will be reduced.

The car engine is making noise

If the engine is knocking, it may be the result of bad oil, which if ignored for too long can wear out the connecting rod bearings. The knock will sound like a stone hitting deep inside the engine, and it will usually shake the car at idle and get louder as the engine revs up. Unfortunately, if you hear a knock, it's usually a sign of serious engine damage from serious negligence - a simple oil change probably won't fix the problem.

What to do if the oil pressure light comes on

If the oil light comes on, you won't want to ignore it, as it usually means that the oil pressure has dropped too low for the engine to run safely. It is very important to know how to react when the oil light is on and the first step is to schedule an immediate oil change.

If you need an oil change, use AvtoTachki to find out the price and make an appointment. Their certified field technicians come to your home or office to change your vehicle's engine oil using only high quality Castrol synthetic or conventional lubricants.