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Seeing one of the little lights on your dashboard flicker on in real-time is one of the worst things a motorist can experience. This problem is even worse when you’re on a budget, barely getting by, only to be faced by further economic bullying brought on by your vehicle. Did you know, however, that there are ways to tell when your engine needs care way before the dashboard lets you know?
One component that needs to be looked at very regularly for engine health is the vehicle’s oil filter. Here are five things you can look for to see if your oil filter is in trouble.
Five Signs of a Bad Oil Filter
Oil filters are necessary for your car’s engine health. Over their useful lives, they filter small solid particles out of your motor oil, which would clog up and wear your engine’s components down.
An oil filter replacement is easy enough to do yourself if you have the proper tools and know-how. If you aren’t the technical type, however, professionals routinely provide these services. You can replace the oil filter every second time you replace the oil in your vehicle, or if you notice one of these tell-tale signs.
1. Engine Sputtering
If you feel your vehicle’s speed drop at random points during a drive, it may be caused by a clogged oil filter. A clogged filter will fail to pump enough oil back into the engine, which will consequently lose performance ability during the drive. The sputtering effect can also get worse over time if you don’t replace the oil filter.
2. Dropping Oil Pressure Guage
Seeing the oil pressure gauge on your dashboard drop a notch or two (and quicker than normal) is another sign of a malfunctioning oil filter. If you notice this kind of pressure drop, you should replace the oil filter immediately. The consequential overheating a pressure drop can lead to is liable to overheating your engine’s components and eventually destroying the whole thing.
3. Clanking Noises
When the engine isn’t lubricated properly, the machined parts will grind against each other and make metallic clanking sounds. These kinds of sounds can mean the oil filter is clogged up. However, if the problem stays after the oil filter is changed, then you should have a mechanic check all the moving parts of your car’s engine.
4. A Dirty Exhaust
A clogged oil filter can also release contaminants into your car’s engine. In some cases, these contaminants will find their way into the exhaust. Two ways to pick this up are smelling burning oil coming from the exhaust (from a distance, don’t put your nose in an active exhaust), or a visible dark black residue building up in the exhaust.
5. A Decline in Performance
The number one symptom of a busted oil filter is a noticeable decline in your car’s ability to accelerate. If you feel your vehicle accelerating slower and slower, or if your gas pedal seems less responsive as time goes on, it could be time to change your oil filter.
Drive Safe, Check Your Oil Filter
Your vehicle needs to have a functioning oil filter in order to operate efficiently and safely. If you notice one or more of these signs, take your car in to see if it might need an oil filter replacement.
If you found our article on car health informative, read some of our other auto, business, or lifestyle articles for more great tips you might need.
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