Taking proper care of your Hyundai car, truck, or SUV, including scheduling regular maintenance and performing needed repairs, is important. Changing the oil is one of the most common things you’ll need to do while you own your vehicle. But how do you know when it’s time to change the oil? Read below as our team at Huffines Hyundai McKinney shares the signs you can look for that indicate it’s time for an oil change and how to go about it.
What Are the Benefits of Regular Oil Changes?
One of the biggest benefits of an oil change is that it can extend the life of your vehicle and ensure it’ll keep running smoothly. Your vehicle relies on its engine to work properly, and the engine needs clean oil to do that. If you fail to change the engine oil regularly, you could damage the engine and face costly repairs.
Your vehicle also may not perform as it should if you don’t regularly change the oil. You may not notice it at first, but your vehicle will perform poorly until it eventually breaks down. Oil changes are essential to keep your vehicle running smoothly for as long as possible.
How Do You Check the Engine Oil?
It’s relatively easy to check the engine oil on most vehicles. Before you start, ensure that the engine is cool and your vehicle is on a flat surface. Open the hood and locate the engine oil dipstick. Remove the dipstick and wipe off any engine oil on the bottom. Then reinsert it, wait a few seconds, and remove it again. You can now see where the engine oil level is compared to the mark on the dipstick to determine if your vehicle is low on oil. You can also check the oil quality.
Some modern vehicles don’t have a traditional dipstick. Consult the owners manual for your vehicle if you’re unsure how to check the oil. You can also schedule an appointment with a nearby service center, such as the one at Huffines Hyundai McKinney, and have them check the oil for you.
What Are 5 Signs That Your Vehicle Needs an Oil Change?
There are a few signs you can look for that’ll tell you it’s time to get an oil change:
Dirty Engine Oil
When you check the engine oil, look closely at the quality of the oil on the dipstick. Clean oil is an amber color and slightly translucent. Over time, as your vehicle uses the oil, it becomes darker as it collects particles from the engine. If you can’t see the dipstick through the engine oil, it’s time for an oil change.
Strange Noises or Smells
When the engine oil is dirty or low, your vehicle may produce odd smells or sounds. Listen for any knocking sounds coming from the engine as you’re driving. These sounds suggest that there isn’t enough oil in the engine. Try to gauge whether the engine is louder than usual, as this can indicate your car needs an oil change.
You may notice an oil smell inside your vehicle or a burning smell after driving if there’s an oil leak. Either way, it’s a good time to have an expert technician change the oil and examine your vehicle.
Exhaust Smoke
It’s common to see vapor from your vehicle’s exhaust pipe when the engine runs. But if this white vapor turns into black smoke, you know there’s a problem. Black smoke can mean the engine has an issue or is leaking oil. Bring your vehicle to a service center to diagnose the problem as soon as possible.
Fuel Efficiency Drop
Your vehicle’s engine needs clean engine oil to perform at maximum efficiency. Without enough clean engine oil, the engine must work harder to perform. So your car will use more fuel to drive the same distances. Many modern vehicles have fuel gauges on the dashboard. If you’re not getting the fuel efficiency you expect, your car may need an oil change. If you don’t have a fuel gauge indicator, you can perform a fuel efficiency test yourself and see how it compares to what your vehicle should be getting.
Dashboard Indicator Light
Finally, the most obvious sign that your vehicle needs an oil change is when the oil indicator light turns on. All vehicles have a check engine or oil change light. Your car constantly assesses the engine oil and will turn on the oil change indicator light when it’s time for an oil change. Your vehicle may have a check engine light that’ll come on instead. Keep in mind that many things can cause this light to turn on. It’s a good idea to bring your vehicle in for an inspection to determine the cause.
Where To Get an Oil Change in McKinney, Texas
When you suspect that your vehicle needs an oil change, the best thing you can do is bring it to a trusted service center. While you can change the oil yourself, it requires special tools and a way to safely discard the used engine oil. A service center can do the job much faster and at an affordable price, making this the easiest option.
If you’re in the McKinney, Texas, area, Huffines Hyundai McKinney is here to help. All our trained and experienced technicians can complete oil changes in a short amount of time. We can also inspect your vehicle for any potential issues before getting you back on the road.
Schedule Your Service Appointment Today
When it’s time for an oil change, schedule an appointment at Huffines Hyundai in McKinney. If your vehicle has other issues, our technicians can inspect it for you and take care of any necessary repairs. Before scheduling your appointment, be sure to check out our latest service specials for ways to save money on your next vehicle maintenance or repair service. Thank you for choosing Huffines Hyundai in McKinney, and we look forward to helping you.