Mike’s Automotive can help if your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s oil filter is clogged. It’s important to understand that a clogged oil filter can seriously damage the engine. This is why we stress the importance of oil changes so much. Every time the oil is changed, the engine gets a new oil filter. This ensures you always have a clean filter in the engine and avoid the following problems.
Iffy Engine Performance
If the oil filter gets clogged, it allows dirty motor oil to circulate through the engine. When this happens, the engine will start to run hotter than it normally does. It will also have problems performing because the motor oil is depositing dirt rather than removing it from the moving engine parts. Naturally, this will affect the parts’ performance, and, as such, your engine’s performance.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
Unfortunately, when the engine cannot run efficiently, it will not use the fuel efficiently. This means you are going to see a reduction in your vehicle’s gas mileage. As you know, gas prices are at an all-time high. One of the worst things that could happen is to have to fill up your tank more often. It is less expensive to have the oil changed every 3,000 miles than to have to buy more fuel.
Reduced Oil Circulation
The clogged oil filter also affects how well the oil circulates in the engine. The filter reduces the oil pressure and this causes system sensors to report malfunctions. As such, the low oil pressure will cause the engine control unit to turn the oil light on. This dashboard warning will remain illuminated until you have an oil change performed to replace the oil and the filter.
Odd Metallic Noises
One reason why we stress the importance of oil changes is as the oil filter gets clogged, it inhibits the oil circulation. Consequently, in severe cases, you may end up with little or no oil circulating through the engine. This can damage the engine in less than 30 minutes. As such, if you hear strange metallic noises in the engine, pull your vehicle over right away and have it towed to our shop.
Excess Vehicle Emissions
Finally, if you live in an area where they conduct emissions testing, your vehicle will fail the test if the oil filter is clogged. This is because the dirty engine increases the exhaust’s hydrocarbons.
Mike’s Automotive in Del City, OK, is here to help, so call us today if your automobile is overdue for an oil change.
