• Dark and dirty oil
  • Clean oil is amber in color – almost like honey. After it’s been in use for a while, oil darkens from all the dirt, grit and other particles it collects from inside the engine. There’s no way of knowing what your oil looks like without actually seeing it, so we recommend removing your dipstick and checking your oil’s coloration around once a month.
• Loud engine noise and knocking
  • Clean oil provides lubrication between engine parts, protects against metal-on-metal contact, and keeps things quiet under your hood while you’re driving. Once the oil starts to get dirty and break down, however, it doesn’t lubricate as effectively – and you’ll hear it.
• Oil change/check engine light
  • If the oil change light on your dashboard is illuminated, it means there’s not enough oil in the system – so if you see it, change your oil as soon as possible. In more serious situations, your check engine light will illuminate, indicating your engine is at high risk of damage due to lack of fluid or damaged parts.

Other reasons to change your oil:

• Putting Away/Removing your vehicle from seasonal storage
  • If you’re storing your vehicle for longer than 30 days, it’s recommended that you change your oil beforehand – used oil has contaminates that could damage your engine. Conversely, if your car has been sitting in storage for an extended length of time, you’ll want to change the oil and filter before firing up the engine again.
• Loud engine noise and knocking
  • Clean oil provides lubrication between engine parts, protects against metal-on-metal contact, and keeps things quiet under your hood while you’re driving. Once the oil starts to get dirty and break down, however, it doesn’t lubricate as effectively – and you’ll hear it.
• An extreme shift in outside temperature
  • In places like Minnesota and Wisconsin, a large shift in temperature can have an impact on your engine’s performance and cold-start operating conditions. Fresh oil can help to mitigate these issues.