3 Signs You Need an Oil Change at Your Ford Dealer

Your engine depends on a constant flow of good quality oil to enable it to work effectively. Oil is one of the fluids in your car that need to be changed regularly, as time causes oil to gradually degrade. As your Ford dealer, we’d like to tell you some of the signs that you need to visit us for an oil change in Johnstown, NY.

Noises From the Engine

Your Ford engine is almost entirely silent as you drive, and this makes strange noises from the engine a cause for concern. Several problems can cause engine noises, but one of the most common is a lack of oil. The oil pump pumps oil through your engine, and as it circulates, it reaches every part of your engine.

Oil lubricates the hard-working engine components protects them from friction damage and cools them. As time passes, oil becomes thicker and more sluggish. It also turns darker as it absorbs dirt from the engine. Older oil is less effective in protecting components from friction and engine blockages, and you’ll start hearing grinding and clunking noises as components mash against each other. We can replace the oil and the oil filter to fix this problem.

Blue Exhaust Smoke

Most drivers don’t look at their exhaust smoke, but it should be whispy and almost invisible. If you start to see blue-hued smoke leaving the tailpipe, this is an oil-related problem. The smoke will also have the pungent smell of burning oil. The blue smoke is caused by oil leaking into your exhaust system, and this can lead to serious problems.

The top and bottom sections of your engine are separated from each other by the head gasket. It prevents oil, coolant, and compression gases from mixing. If oil leaks into your exhaust it will usually happen due to a damaged head gasket. If the problem isn’t fixed ASAP, your engine could be permanently damaged. We’ll find the cause of the leak and repair it. If necessary, we can remove and replace the head gasket.

Engine Temperature is High

A higher-than-usual engine temperature can have several causes. For example, if you’re driving uphill or towing a heavy weight, your engine works harder and the temperature will naturally increase. Your cooling system will speed up to reduce the temperature. A lack of oil will also cause the engine temperature to rise.

As we’ve seen, the oil helps to cool the various engine components. If your oil level is low or dirty, this cooling ability disappears. Our technicians will check your oil and refill it.

If you suspect a problem with your Ford’s oil, call us immediately at Brown’s Ford of Johnstown.

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