If you overlook the oil light and overdue an oil change, it’ll overheat your car engine and cause the engine to stall.
Other common overdue oil change symptoms are low oil level, burning smell, loud noise, and engine misfire.
You can’t avoid these signs and must change the oil to avoid expensive repairs. Though it isn’t recommended, you can keep driving around 500 miles with an overdue oil change problem in an emergency. Let’s discuss this briefly!
Article Summary
Overdue oil Change Symptoms
Today’s vehicles alert owners about the right time for an oil change. If you have an older vehicle, you must measure the mileage or check the calendar to refill the oil at the perfect time. But if you notice any of these symptoms, your car is already due for an oil change:
1. Low Oil Level
It’s a common and first sign that you’ll notice if overdue oil changes. To verify, go under the hood and check the oil level manual.
Take the dipstick out of the tank and clean it. Pull in and out the dipstick again and check the fluid level. If the level is too low, your car is due for an oil change and needs to top off.
2. The Oil Change Light is On
Your modern vehicle should activate the oil change light to inform you of any possible oil tank issues. It can activate due to overdue oil changes, oil pressure issues, or other reasons.
Your car may also turn on the check engine light at this time. Turn off the engine immediately after noticing any error lights and call an expert mechanic.
3. Burning Oil Smell
Due to a lack of sufficient oil, the remaining oil in the engine begins to break down and collect debris. It starts emitting a burning odor.
So if you smell a burning odor while driving a car, it’s a symptom of an overdue oil change.
4. Unusual Noises
Old engine oil drops into the engine’s moving parts. Hence, moving parts make excessive friction and cause an irritating screeching sound. So if you hear a weird loud noise from the engine, it can be a sign of an overdue oil change.
5. Dark or Dirty Oil
While fresh oil cleans deposits and sludge in the engine, dirty oil adds more slush and turns into the dark.
So if you notice black oil in the engine, you have to change the oil. Otherwise, it can overheat the engine and damage it severely.
6. Overheating
Old engine oil deteriorates and can’t lubricate the engine’s metal parts. It can increase the friction between metal and overheat the engine.
At a time, smoke may also come out from under the hood. In this case, stop driving the car, cool the engine, change the oil, and then you can start driving.
7. Difficulty in Shifting
Dirty or old engine oil can make it hard to shift between gears. Low engine oil, low transmission fluid, or clogged oil filter can also be responsible. So if you struggle shifting gears check the oil level and clean the oil filter.
8. Engine Misfire
An overdue oil change can clog the tiny oil return holes in the pistons with carbon and sludge. It can cause overflow in the piston and foul the piston rings.
Neglecting this situation too long can foul the plugs with oil and cause a misfire. It can end up causing engine stalls with blocked catalysts.
Solutions To Overdue Oil Change
If your oil is badly overdue, here are some commonsense ways to fix the problem:
Get an Immediate Oil Change
If you can, take it to your nearest service center dealership or do an oil change yourself (if you know what you’re doing) and change out the oil. New oil means proper lubrication and no damage to the engine.
Check Oil Level
But in the meantime, before you can get it into the shop for a proper oil change dip in the delivery-of-crisis register, look in on the oil level with the dipstick and replenish it with the appropriate type of oil (if it’s off-kilter). This will help buy you some time with your engine.
Avoid Heavy Driving
If an oil change is due, limit high-speed or long-distance driving until the job is done. An engine with worn-out parts can be damaged by overwork, especially if it’s been forced to operate without fresh oil.
Set Reminders
Following an oil change, you shouldn’t forget to do it again, so set reminders to ensure it gets done before the car appraisal. Most cars also have a reminder facility, which can be set as well.
A prompt oil change will avoid wear on your engine and costly repairs.
Can You Add Oil When an Oil Change is Overdue?
Though you can extend the oil change interval, it isn’t recommended. Old engine oil gets dirt and loses lubricating properties, which severely ceases the bearings and damages the engine.
An overdue oil change also means the oil becomes useless and can’t protect the engine. If you simply add oil to the engine instead of changing the old oil, it can damage the engine due to overfilling.
While changing the oil and filter is cheap, replacing engines and turbochargers is expensive. Adding too much oil can also cause foam or bubbling and excess oil pressure, leading to gasket leakage or seal failure.
To avoid those issues, change oil between 3000 to 5000 miles as it is preferred as standard. If you’ve gone over it, check the dipstick and decide accordingly. Write down the mileage after changing the oil.
Can You Still Drive When the Oil Change is Due?
However, it doesn’t mean you drive past the suggested oil change interval forever.
While oil’s purpose is to lubricate the engine parts and reduce friction that can lead to overheating, it works only when it is fresh as old and dirty oil is less prone to lubricate parts and can lead to overheating of the engine and excess wear and tear on the engine with too much rubbing.
Although making a short drive just after the suggested oil change date is usually safe as you do that drive at a low engine temperature, driving with dirty oil too long can cause serious damage to your engine.
In that case, replacing some engine parts or even the whole engine can cost you. This is why you’d better change oil as soon as it is due. Oil changes maintain the well-being of your vehicle for a long time.
How Long Can You Go Without an Oil Change?
You should change engine oil every 3000 miles to avoid causing overdue oil changes. However, thanks to the improved engine technology and chemistry, you can wait for around 5000 to 7000 miles before changing the oil.
If your car’s engine uses synthetic oil, you can drive up to 15000 miles between oil changes depending on your car’s make and model.
You may also need to change the oil frequently, particularly if you drive a car at high speed or in hot weather.
In an older car, the oil level drops too quickly. Today’s car needs to change the oil in shorter intervals. To determine the right time for an oil change, check the oil color of your older car’s engine.
While light color means newer oil, dark color indicates the oil is starting to break down and needs change.
How Long Can You Drive With Overdue Oil Change?
While you may have enough time between oil change intervals, an overdue oil change won’t give you much time. You can only drive 500 miles with this concerning issue. You shouldn’t try to pass this limit.
Otherwise, if you wait long, your clean and smooth oil becomes slush. If this happens, the engine will start working harder to fight against the muck buildup.
The engine will lose its lubrication, and its heat-absorbing ability will also be reduced. So you’ll face a major issue.
So, whether you drive the car regularly or occasionally and have an older or newer car, change the oil on time.
Though you can drive around 500 miles with an overdue oil change, you shouldn’t take this high risk. Otherwise, you can find yourself trapped in the middle of the road or may need to pay thousands for repair.
What If You Overdue Oil Change by 2,000 Miles?
Though it won’t kill your car, it will shorten its lifespan. Your car’s performance will also suffer till the next service. The more you wait, the more cumulative wear your engine will get.
However, oil performance doesn’t drop rapidly. It’s a slow process. The potential consequences also depend on your driving style, the brand and type of oil you use, and your environment.
You shouldn’t keep driving in this condition, particularly if planning thousands of miles of road trips in dry and hot conditions.
You shouldn’t push your car to its limit or tow heavy items. Check the engine oil. If it is very low or super black, add at least a quart until you change the whole oil.
FAQs on
Does Needing an Oil Change Affect Acceleration?
Yes, changing oil lubricating, and cooling the engine parts to maintain its optimal performance. If you wait too long to change the oil, it can increase friction, reduce efficiency, and impact acceleration.
Does an Overdue Oil Change Prevent the Car from Starting?
An overdue oil change won’t cause your car no start unless the engine runs out of oil. In this case, turn on the crankshaft with your hand to see if the engine starts. If it doesn’t, you may need to check and replace the starter.
How Much Does Overdue Oil Change Cost?
An oil change usually costs around $50 to $200. However, it varies depending on the car and the brand of oil you use. For example, a BMW oil change costs around $135 to $175 while it cost $75 to $180 for a Lexus car. If you have a Toyota car, you have to pay around $50 for changing the oil.
What Happens If I Don’t Change My Oil on Time?
As time goes by, sludge from unclean oil starts piling up in the engine, decreasing its lubrication to the extent that the engine will heat up and eventually burn out, forcing a financial and time-consuming repair, such as engine replacement.
How Can I Temporarily Protect My Engine If My Oil Change is Overdue?
Check your dipstick to see how much oil you have left, and add more of the proper type of oil if necessary. Keep all this up until you can get an oil change. Avoid long trips or high speeds until then.
Final Words
If you’ve passed the recommended oil changing interval, you should see an activated light or warning oil on your car’s dashboard.
It isn’t concerning as you have enough time to change the oil and can keep driving thousands of miles with this error message.
However, experiencing overdue oil change symptoms means something has gone wrong with the engine.
You can’t take any of these signs (a burning smell, loud noise, overheating, and engine misfire) lightly. If you don’t want to kill the engine completely, change oil as soon as possible.
