THE DANGERS OF DRIVING WITH LOW OIL LEVEL
Maintaining your car is critical so that you can enjoy carefree driving. If you neglect preventative maintenance, it can lead to problems with the overall performance as well as expensive repairs. One of the worst things that you can do is drive with a low oil level.
At Buchanan Automotive, we have a service center with technicians who can provide you with an oil change. It ensures that you get the necessary amount of oil added to your car. We can also show you how to test the oil levels when you’re in so that you can avoid problems in the future.
Dangers of Driving with Low Oil Level
The engine oil is responsible for lubricating the moving components of your engine. When there is an insufficient level of oil, it means that your engine isn’t properly lubricated.
The moment that your engine stops being lubricated, you run into problems with performance. You may start to hear grinding and clunking sounds as your engine continues to operate without enough oil on the parts. Over time, this will cause added wear and tear on the parts – and they’ll break, leading to expensive repairs.
If you continue to drive with an engine that doesn’t have enough oil, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road. Many engines will become damaged within 30 minutes of running without oil. The damage can be significant, so it may not be as simple as adding oil in order to get your engine up and running again.
There are a few other dangers to be concerned about, even if your engine doesn’t seize up due to insufficient oil levels.
Poor Fuel Efficiency
Oil is responsible for eliminating deposits that can build up in your engine over time. Without sufficient levels of oil, the deposits will start to clog various components. It will affect the efficiency of your engine and cause you to use more gas as you continue to drive.
Engine Overheats
The engine oil will actually help to cool parts of the engine that aren’t reached by the coolant in the radiator. This means that your engine relies on multiple ways to keep it cool. Even with a working radiator, if your engine oil gets too low, it can cause the engine to heat up too much, causing irreversible damage.
Engine Corrodes/Rusts
As the engine oil moves throughout your engine, it actually helps to provide a protective layer over various components. If you don’t have that oil in place, your engine can be consumed by rust – and it will become corroded over time.
Poor Engine Performance
There’s a reason why there’s a ‘check engine’ light on your vehicle. The moment it lights up, it signifies that your engine needs attention – and it’s most likely due to the oil levels. Your engine depends on oil circulating so that there’s a seal between the cylinder and piston. When there’s not enough oil, the seal breaks – and that’s when you notice a significant decline in the engine performance.
How to Know Your Oil Level
To avoid the dangers of a low oil level, there are a few things that you can look for:
• ‘Check engine’ light is illuminated
• Burning smell is detected
• Performance drops considerably
You can also use the dipstick in your engine reservoir. If it’s low, you can schedule an oil change. If you do decide that you want to “top off” the oil, you will need to make sure that the quality and viscosity of the engine oil are the same as what’s already in there. Further, you’ll want to make sure your engine is off and has had a chance to cool.
If you find that your levels get low in between oil changes, it’s important that you have a technician take a look to find out what is going on. There may be damage to the oil filter, a crack in the oil pan, or even problems with the seals or gaskets.
At Buchanan Automotive, we’re here to help with your engine oil as well as all of the other preventative maintenance. Our goal is to make sure your vehicle performs at peak levels at all times.
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