If your car, truck, or utility vehicle is long overdue for an oil change, it’s possible that the oil filter is clogged. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair advises that a clogged filter can cause serious engine damage. It’s important to have the oil changed in your automobile every six months or 3,000 miles so that you always have fresh oil and a clean oil filter in the engine. Below are signs that the oil filter is dirty.
Sketchy Engine Performance
The oil filter’s job is to keep the motor oil clean every time it circulates through the engine. As the oil circulates, it picks up dirt. It then runs through the filter to remove the dirt so it is clean for recirculation. If the oil filter is dirty, the oil will not be cleaned. Consequently, it will begin to deposit dirt throughout the engine and gunk it up. This will affect your engine’s performance and temperature.
Reduction in Fuel Efficiency
Your engine is going to struggle to run and run hotter than it normally does. When this happens, the engine burns more fuel in order to produce power. Unfortunately, the dirty oil filter is going to indirectly cause a reduction in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It’s better to have the oil changed regularly than suffer from poor gas mileage that requires you filling your tank more often.
Reduction in Oil Pressure
The oil pressure in the engine is also going to be reduced by the dirty oil filter. Unfortunately, this, too, affects how well your engine runs and causes it to overheat. Aside from the noticeable temperature difference in performance issues, you will also end up with an oil light illuminated on the dashboard.
Metallic Engine Noises
There will come a point when the oil filter gets so dirty that the oil can no longer pass through it. When this happens, you will be driving your engine without any motor oil in it. This will cause metallic engine noises as the parts grind against each other and damage each other. The damage can be as quick as 30 minutes and render your engine irreparable.
Increased Hydrocarbons
Finally, a dirty engine releases excess hydrocarbons in the vehicle’s exhaust. As such, your automobile does not stand a chance of passing an emissions test if the oil filter is clogged.
Willoughby Hills Auto Repair in Willoughby Hills, OH, is here for all of your auto service and repair needs, so call us today if you are overdue for an oil change.