10 Signs Your Car Needs an Oil Change and Tune-up

Engine oil is like the blood of every car. The engine needs oil to lubricate its moving components and keep them operating smoothly. In fact, engines of all kinds need oil in order to function. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a motorcycle, generator, or even a lawnmower. If it’s got an engine, then it needs to be lubricated with oil.

An engine is filled with parts that are constantly moving and rubbing together. This constant rubbing creates heat from all the friction. You need oil to flow through these moving parts so that it can absorb the heat and prevent overheating.

The Top 10 Signs
There are so many different signs that will show up which indicate that your vehicle needs an oil change and possibly a tune-up. When you take your vehicle in for an oil change, the service person will usually inspect your vehicle and then give you additional recommendations on what they think needs to be done. However, you shouldn’t always depend on them to do this accurately because they might not always catch every issue. That is why you need to pay attention to the signs which indicate that you need a tune-up of some kind.

Below are the top 10 signs of your car needing an oil change and/or a tune-up.

Car Stalling – If you’re driving and your vehicle begins to stall, then you could have a big or small problem. A small problem would be if you have a clogged fuel filter or bad spark plugs. Something like this can be replaced with a simple tune-up.

Difficulty Starting Engine – If you notice that you’re consistently having problems turning on your engine, then you might need to replace your battery. You may notice the engine hesitating before it starts up while the lights on the dashboard dim a bit. Clearly, you need a tune-up that involves a new battery.

Warning Lights – The computers and sensors in vehicles today make it easier for them to detect a problem early on before it gets worse. If you notice an indicator light illuminating on your dashboard, use your owner’s manual to see what that light means. Warning lights will warn you about all kinds of problems such as low battery, taillight burned out, transmission malfunction, and so on. However, if you need an oil change, then you will see the oil change light illuminate. In some cars, it is the check engine light.

Vibration on Flat Surfaces – If you notice your car vibrating on flat surfaces or roads, there could be many different reasons for this. Sometimes, though, you might just need to balance your tires or possibly get new ones if the treads are worn. There could be low air pressure in your tires or a faulty universal joint as well.

Overheating – If you don’t have enough oil in your engine or if the oil hasn’t been changed in a while, then it won’t do as good a job of lubricating the engine’s components. This will cause the engine to heat up more and eventually overheat. An oil change will fix this problem.

Loud Noises – Engine oil gets old and worn after a while. That is why car manufacturers recommend you change your oil every 5,000 miles or so. If you have old oil in your vehicle, then it is likely getting dirtier and thicker. This will make it harder for the oil to lubricate your engine’s components. As a result, your engine will begin making loud noises because of the lubrication failure. Get an oil change right away.

Oil Smell – If the interior cabin of your vehicle is starting to smell like oil, then you know you have some problem with your oil. It usually means there is an oil leak and that it is burning due to an overheated engine. You’ll want to fix that overheating problem and then change your oil right afterward.

Exhaust Smoke – If you live in a cold environment then you are used to seeing vapor emitting from the tailpipe of your vehicle. However, if you actually start seeing smoke come out of it, then you probably have an oil leak. The smoke is the result of less oil being in your engine to lubricate its parts, due to the leak. So, get the leak fixed and the oil replaced.

Dark Oil – If you’ve ever seen clean oil before, it kind of has a bright amber color to it. But when oil becomes old and dirty from the build-up of residue particles in the engine, then it becomes a much darker color. You should make it a habit of sticking a dipstick into the oil of your engine and then removing it. The color that gets onto the stick is the color of the oil. If it’s dark, then you need to change your oil.

Shifting Hesitation – If you are driving an automatic vehicle, then you should have no problems with shifting between gears. But if there is hesitation or lag when you shift gears, it could mean that you need new transmission fluid or filters. Of course, it could mean a worse problem too. That is why taking your car in for a tune-up will at least detect what the problem is.

What does a tune-up involve?
We’ve all heard the term “tune-up” as it relates to vehicles. You might think a tune-up means getting an oil change and having your windshield washed. But in actuality, there is a lot more to a tune-up than that. A tune-up means you are having various components and parts of your vehicle inspected and replaced if they are worn out. Some of these areas include your distributor cap, fuel filter, PCV valve, air filter, spark plugs, brakes, hoses, belts, and wires. The service person will also check your idle speed, idle mixture, sensors, and ignition timing. If any of these areas are not normal, they will be adjusted appropriately.

The Check Engine Light Demystified

Your car Check Engine Light can mean many things. The Check Engine Light comes on when there's an electrical or mechanical problem with your car.

There’s one little yellow light that strikes fear in the heart of every driver. It casts a shadow of doubt over your whole vehicle. Will this be something straightforward or will the repair bill put you in debt?

The Check Engine Light has long puzzled drivers with its vague warning. When it illuminates, it's unclear if you should continue driving or get your car towed. Here’s everything you’ve wanted to know about the Check Engine Light:

What the Check Engine Light Does

The Check Engine Light has one purpose: to tell you when you have a problem. That’s all. It doesn’t tell you what the problem is; a technician will have to perform a diagnostic scan to check the affected system. It only indicates that something isn’t working properly.

The Check Engine Light is also known as a malfunction indicator light. It’s shaped like a motor and is yellow in color. Most vehicle systems run self tests under certain operating conditions, and the results are reported to their respective control modules. If a self test fails under certain parameters, your car’s Check Engine Light will come on. It could be an engine, transmission, or emissions system that didn’t pass the test.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

There are two different ways the Check Engine Light can come on: solid or flashing. They mean two different things.

If the engine light comes on and flashes, that indicates an immediate concern. You need to find a safe place to pull over and turn your vehicle off. You may want to consider getting it towed to the shop. A technician needs to diagnose the concern at the absolute earliest convenience to prevent damage to your car. A flashing Check Engine Light is serious business.

If the engine light comes on solid, it may still be a reason for concern, however it doesn’t immediately need to strike fear in your heart. A solid Check Engine Light can mean something like a loose gas cap, or it can indicate a more in-depth problem like a fuel, timing, or transmission issue. Get your car diagnosed, although the urgency isn’t the same as if the light was flashing at you.

Common Reasons the Check Engine Light Comes On

The reason for an engine light can be a risk of catastrophic failure or something requiring immediate attention, or it could be nothing at all. As the car’s systems run self-tests, it is possible that a test fails and the engine light comes on, and the next test passes. The Check Engine Light may not turn off as soon as it passes, and it may not even turn off until a technician clears the code even though there is no repair required at all. 

Common reasons for the Check Engine Light are:

• The gas cap was left loose when refuelling
• Emissions-related sensors, such as oxygen sensors, have failed
• Engine timing problems, most commonly with variable valve timing
• Transmission failure codes
• Engine misfire codes
• Catalytic converter problems

There are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of other reasons for the Check Engine Light to come on. If it illuminates, have it checked out expediently. Don’t take unnecessary chances if it feels like the vehicle is not operating in a safe manner. Have your vehicle towed to the shop if you don’t feel safe driving it. If the Check Engine Light is flashing, it is in your best interest to cease driving until the light has been diagnosed and repaired.

4 Essential Things to Know About Your Car’s Check Engine Light

The Check Engine Light turns on when there's an engine problem. A bad oxygen sensor or failed spark plug are common causes for the Check Engine Light.

When a car’s Check Engine Light comes on, it does not necessarily mean that it's cause for panic. However, it does mean that the vehicle needs some attention to make sure that it continues to run properly.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

It’s often difficult to discern exactly why the light came on in the first place without having a diagnostic test performed on your vehicle, which can be frustrating for many owners. A diagnostic test is usually very fast, and it can give you a better idea of what the extent of the problem is so you can take care of it.

The Most Common Reasons the Check Engine Light Comes On

A number of different problems can cause the Check Engine Light to turn on. The following are five of the most common reasons.

The oxygen sensor could be burned out or faulty, which could then give false readings to the car’s computer and reduce your fuel efficiency. A loose gas cap could also cause the Check Engine Light to come on, so checking for a loose or faulty cap should be one of the first things you do. In addition, it could be a problem with the catalytic converter, the mass airflow sensor, or the spark plugs and wires.

What Should You Do When the Light Comes On?

Unless the vehicle isn’t starting, is stalling, or smoking, your first step should be to get a diagnostic test so you can determine what steps to take for repair. Because so many different things in the vehicle could cause the light to come on, getting the advice of a professional mechanic is often your best option.

Never Ignore the Light

One of the things that you do not want to do when the light comes on is panic or worry. Get the diagnosis and then take care of the problem. It’s not usually an emergency, so you should have time to take care of it. However, you should never simply ignore the light.

You want your vehicle to last as long as possible, and that means you need to take good care of it. Whenever the Check Engine Light comes on, have a certified mobile mechanic from AutoFactorNG mechanic inspect the vehicle.