Five Signs Your Nissan Needs an Oil Change

With the daily demands of a busy schedule, it’s easy to miss the signs that your Nissan needs an oil change. Whether you’ve noticed a problem with your car or you’re just due for a routine oil check, your local Nissan dealership can provide friendly and professional help.

1. Dark or Gritty Oil

Over time, your oil starts to collect dirt and debris from the engine, which can cause friction and damage to other engine components. Therefore, when the oil starts to darken or become gritty, it’s time to schedule a change. When topping off your oil, you can check whether it needs replacing by wiping off your dipstick and reinserting it into the engine. When you lift it out again, if the oil seems dark, thick, or gritty, it needs to be changed.

2. Unusual Noises

Strange noises can mean many things, including insufficient or old oil. As your oil circulates around the engine, it lubricates all the components, preventing friction and allowing moving parts to operate smoothly. When the oil breaks down or if there simply isn’t enough, friction increases and the metal parts start to knock against each other. You can hear this in the cabin, especially when starting the engine.

3. Smoking Exhaust

A small amount of white vapor from the exhaust is normal, particularly on cold mornings. However, if you notice a large amount of smoke or a blue, gray, or black tinge, there may be a problem with your oil. Dirty or insufficient oil can cause parts to wear away, allowing oil to leak into the combustion chamber. The oil is then mixed with fuel and air during combustion before being expelled from the exhaust as darkly colored smoke.

4. Change in Fuel Consumption

As mentioned above, when there’s a problem with the oil, friction increases, making it harder for the parts to move against each other. This means the engine has to work harder, burning more fuel in the process. Although you shouldn’t rely on a drop in fuel consumption to warn you there’s a problem with your oil, it’s certainly another factor to watch out for.

5. Burning Smell

A burning smell is always a concern and should be checked promptly. In some cases, it may be due to oil leaking onto hot engine parts, creating a distinctive burned-oil smell. You may also notice a rise in the engine temperature gauge.

Schedule a Visit to Your Local Nissan Dealership Today

Changing the oil may seem like such a small task, but clean oil is integral to many critical processes within your Nissan’s engine. If you have noticed your vehicle isn’t performing at its best, or you recognize any of the above signs, speak to your local dealership today.

To get advice from friendly professionals, call us today at Courtesy Nissan in Altoona, PA.

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