If left unchanged, oil filters can get clogged. When this happens, they affect engine performances and can even damage engines. Hummel’s Automotive Diagnostics and Repair is here to change your oil every 3,000 miles to make sure this never happens to you. We can also change the oil every 5,000 miles if you want synthetic put in the engine. The following are signs that the oil filter is clogged in your engine.
Problems With Engine Performance
Engine performance trouble accompanies a clogged oil filter. The engine will run hotter than it normally does because the motor oil circulating through the engine is dirty. Unfortunately, the dirty motor oil does not do as good of a job of absorbing the engine’s heat. In addition, the engine will lag because the motor oil is depositing dirt throughout it. Both the oil filter and oil need to be changed.
Noticeable Reduction in Gas Mileage
The more your engine struggles to perform the more gasoline it will burn. Consequently, the dirty oil filter will cause a noticeable reduction in your vehicle’s fuel economy. If you think about it, it’s actually less expensive to have the oil changed on a regular basis than it is to fill the tank more often. As such, make sure to always schedule your oil changes when your vehicle needs them.
Problems With the Oil’s Pressure
Another issue that will be caused by the dirty oil filter is a reduction in the oil’s pressure throughout the engine. Consequently, this, too, is going to cause a lag in your engine’s performance. On top of this, the engine control module is going to turn on the oil light because the oil pressure is too low. This is your sign that there is a problem with the oil, oil filter, or, in this case, oil pressure.
Noticeable Metallic Sounds
If you do not have enough oil circulating through the engine, the parts are going to start grinding against each other. Consequently, you will hear metallic noises as you drive your automobile. It’s important that you stop driving the vehicle and have it towed to our shop. Without enough oil in the engine, you run the risk of damaging it severely if you continue to operate it.
Finally, Hummel’s Automotive Diagnostics and Repair in St. George, UT, advises that if you live in an area that requires regular emissions testing, the clogged oil filter will cause your automobile to fail the test. This is because the dirty engine releases excess hydrocarbons.
