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What are the symptoms of bad engine oil?
I am a first-time car owner and bought my car a few months ago—I know about getting your oil changed and whatnot, but I don’t know what to look for when checking for bad oil. What are some of the symptoms of bad engine oil?
Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
This is a great question, one that everyone should know the answer to—one of the most common and easily recognizable symptoms of bad engine oil is a change in color and viscosity, but there are several other telltale signs indicating your oil has gone bad:
- Change in color and viscosity: normally, your oil should be amber in color and have a similar viscosity to olive oil—if your oil has turned dark brown or black and thickened significantly, or if it has become milky or cream-colored, you’ll know it’s gone bad.
- Worsening fuel efficiency: bad or low engine oil can also cause a decrease in fuel efficiency and gas mileage
- **Check Engine or Oil Change light: if your oil has gone bad or it’s time for an oil change, your Check Engine or Oil Change light should illuminate
- Engine noise: if you notice your engine starting to make more noise than usual, your engine oil may no longer be lubricating parts properly
If you start to notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to take your vehicle in for an oil change—never continue driving with bad or low motor oil, as it can seriously damage your engine.
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