How do you know if your engine oil is dirty? Toyota of Orlando explains.

 Do you bring your car into our Orlando auto service center regularly to get oil changes? If you do, congrats... and if you don't, you should be. Oil keeps your engine cool and also keeps all of its moving parts lubricated so your car can have a long and efficient life. That's why it's important to keep your vehicle equipped with the proper level of clean engine oil. 

However, as oil circulates through your engine, it's bound to pick up dirt, debris, and grime. Over time, this makes it thick, dirty, and unable to do its job, which means if you don't change it, you're highly likely to have major issues with your engine. How do you know if engine oil is dirty? Toyota of Orlando's car care experts are here to help you spot oil that needs to be changed. 

Toyota of Orlando's instructions on how to check engine oil 

First things first - you need to know how to check your car's oil before you can figure out if it's dirty or not. Here's how you do it: 

• Turn your car off and let it cool down for a minute (this will make it more pleasant under the hood, trust us) 
• Locate the oil dipstick, usually somewhere in the center of the engine 
• Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil on it. 
• There are two tic marks on the end of the dipstick, and that's how you gauge the oil level. The oil should be in between the tic marks. If it's below, your engine doesn't have enough oil. 
• Now, look at the oil itself. It should be dirt- and debris-free and a tan, caramel hue in color. 

Now that you know to check engine oil, it's time to figure out whether it's dirty or not. Here are some surefire signs you need an oil change, according to our Toyota of Orlando service techs: 

• You can actually see dirt and debris in the oil - like, chunks of it. 
• The oil color is dark brown or black. Remember, it should be caramel-colored. Dark brown and black hues mean the engine oil is dirty. 
• Your exhaust is putting out smoke. 
• You can smell oil inside of your Orlando Toyota's cabin while you're driving. 
• You hear knocking sounds when you drive, or you feel like your car is just running a lot louder than it normally does in general. (More engine noise.) 

If you notice that your engine oil is dirty, it's time to bring it into Toyota of Orlando for an oil change. Dirty engine oil can cause big-time expensive damage to your engine - sometimes even irreparable damage. Schedule an appointment at our Toyota service center to get your car's oil clean and full again. 

Schedule an engine oil change with our Toyota service center 

Need to schedule? Call us for an Orlando oil change today. We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001 and we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road. Schedule online, on the phone, or just stop by!