What Happens When You Put Off That Oil Service

Performing Oil Service Check With a Dipstick

Oil Should Come Out in a Clear Brown Color. Dark Brown or Black Oil Should be Changed.

There are many fluids that vehicle owners must carefully manage to keep their vehicles safe, including:

  • Radiator Coolant
  • Power Steering Fluid
  • Wiper Fluid
  • Transmission Fluid
  • and Oil

What happens when you forget about replacing your car oil? While you may be able to get away with it for a time, there are some serious consequences for putting off your oil service.

Consequences of Oil Burnout

Imagine you’re made it halfway through Texas on a road trip from California to Florida when your engine starts to rapidly heat up. Suddenly, your engine completely seizes up. By then, the local Fort Worth, TX oil change service won’t be able to save your engine! The result is thousands of dollars in repairs or complete engine replacement.

While driving on old oil for a time is acceptable, it can still diminish the performance of your vehicle. Fresh, clean oil allows all the parts of your engine to move freely as they were made to. It’s crucial that you get your oil changed on a regular basis.

How Do I Know if I Need My Oil Changed?

One of the first signs of aging oil is increased engine noise. As oil degrades, its ability to lubricate interlocking metal parts fades. The older the oil gets, the louder the noise will become. You may also start to see smoke emitting from your exhaust pipe, or a whiff of burning oil inside the cabin. You’ll definitely want to drive to your nearest oil change service as soon as you are able.

For those drivers who fancy popping beneath the hood, you can perform a DOI exam of your oil. Pull out the dipstick from the oil pan, wipe it off, reinsert the stick, then pull it out to examine the color. Newer oil will appear light brown, while degraded oil comes out dark brown or black. 

Call and Schedule Your Oil Service Today!

Is it time for your oil change? We’d be happy to do the job for you! Give our German Performance team a call at 805-466-3236 and schedule your oil change in Atascadero, CA