8 Symptoms of Too Little or No Engine Oil in Your Car
Oil gives life to your engine, but what happens when the oil level drops? Just like blood is drained from a beating heart, your engine loses vital fluid. Without this vital lubrication, you risk premature wear, overheating, and even complete failure.
Every car owner should know how to recognize the symptoms of low oil levels in their engine. If there are signs that indicate there is no oil at all, it may already be too late, but you may be able to avoid a catastrophic engine failure. Why Engine Oil is Important
There’s a good reason why the expression “runs like a well-oiled machine” exists: Proper engine lubrication is crucial for any internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. You may not realize it, but motor oil is one of the most important components of your car.
Think of it this way: your car’s engine is like the heart of your car, and engine oil is like the blood it pumps. Without proper lubrication, excessive friction and heat between moving parts can quickly damage your engine, resulting in expensive repairs or even complete engine failure. But oil can do much more than that. It also contributes to fuel economy. Good lubrication reduces friction and resistance between parts, minimizing unnecessary fuel consumption.
Some of us are familiar with the analogy that motor oil is like a human joint. Just as joints need lubrication to reduce friction and prevent wear, a car’s engine also needs motor oil to run efficiently. Signs of low engine oil level
There are several key indicators that can help you identify if your vehicle is running with too little or no oil in the engine. While some issues can be ignored until convenient, low engine oil requires immediate attention.
1) Oil Pressure Light
The simplest indication of low oil level is the oil pressure warning light on your dashboard coming on. There is a sensor that detects when your vehicle’s oil pressure is too low. This sensor is connected to a warning light on your dashboard. So when the sensor detects low oil pressure, it will automatically turn on the warning light.
In such cases, be sure to top off the oil and take your car to a repair shop or dealer when the oil level drops. Any existing leaks should be found and repaired there. Sometimes the oil pressure control code P06DD accompanies the light.
2) Blue Smoke
A common sign of low oil level is blue smoke coming from the exhaust or the engine itself as oil drips onto hot metal parts. This happens when oil burns in your engine.
If you notice blue smoke while driving, drive to a safe place and check your oil levels. So the next time you’re running errands and wonder why a car nearby is emitting blue smoke, now you know.
3) Burnt Oil Smell
This symptom usually occurs at the same time as the previous one. If blue smoke means you’re burning oil, you’ll probably smell it too. If you smell a burning smell in your car, especially the smell of burning oil, remove your car from the road and turn off the engine immediately. This burning smell may be coming from an oil leak in a hot component of the engine.
If you have a dipstick (some newer cars don’t have one), use it to check the oil level. If it shows that the oil level is below the minimum level, you should not continue driving until you add new engine oil. Failure to ignore this warning can result in engine damage and possibly a fire.
Once the oil level is at the recommended level, look for leaks. If the oil level continues to slowly drop, have it checked by a mechanic. It could simply be a leaking valve cover gasket or a more serious issue such as a leaking rear main seal.
4) Poor Engine Performance
There are many issues related to engine performance that can be caused by too little or no oil. You may experience loss of power, poor fuel economy, or even engine stalling. All of these signs can be due to a lack of lubrication in the engine, which increases friction and wear on moving parts. If you notice this symptom while driving, look out for the other symptoms mentioned in this article to resolve the issue.
5) Knocking Noise
This symptom will only occur if you have not done anything about the burning smell and warning light symptoms mentioned earlier. If you continue to drive your vehicle despite the low oil level, you will experience a knocking noise as the last symptom before the engine stalls out completely.
The reason is that there is less oil to lubricate the engine parts. This causes more friction and causes the engine’s connecting rods to come loose. These connecting rods are responsible for holding the pistons in place in your vehicle.
If this connecting rod gets too loose and breaks, you’re “throwing the connecting rod”. While the connecting rod is being thrown, you’ll hear a knocking noise under the bonnet. After just a few hundred metres, the engine will stall and the connecting rod will be thrown out. Remember that engine oil is not just a lubricant for engine parts. Oil also cleans and cools the engine.
6) Clicking and Clunking Noises
These sharp noises may sound like metal grinding against metal. Oil lubricates all the moving parts in your engine, keeping it running smoothly. If there’s no oil, it can cause an increase in friction and wear among the components. These sounds will be how you know and at this point, the damage may have already been done.
7) Engine Overheating
A fully functioning cooling system is necessary to maintain your vehicle’s temperature. However, engine oil also helps in regulating heat and cooling down areas where coolant can’t reach.
When there’s no oil, your engine is prone to overheating due to the increased friction when metal components within your engine make contact with each other.
8) Loud Grinding or Clunking
Failure to lubricate vital engine components due to no oil can lead to loud and unsettling grinding or clunking sounds. It’s a dangerous situation, so refrain from starting your car with low oil levels.
Driving with zero oil in your car is extremely risky and could result in complete engine failure. If you’ve gotten to the point of having no oil in your engine, you likely have a severe leak or long standing minor leak that has not been addressed.
Causes of Low Engine Oil
Oil Leaks
Leaks can occur in various parts of your engine, including the oil pan, valve cover gasket, and oil cooler lines. If you notice oil spots on the ground under your vehicle or see evidence of oil on the engine components, it’s a sign that there’s a leak you should address.
Infrequent Oil Changes
Not changing your engine oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations can also lead to low oil levels. Over time, motor oil breaks down, loses its lubricating properties, and becomes contaminated with dirt and debris. It can even go bad after a certain amount of time. All of this can result in increased engine wear and the eventual depletion of the oil supply.
Worn-Out Oil Pump
A bad oil pump may lead to low oil pressure and poor oil circulation within the engine. The oil pump is responsible for pumping oil to all necessary parts, and if it’s not working correctly, your engine may not be getting adequate lubrication. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of a failing oil pump and replace it if necessary before your oil situation gets worse.
Clogged Oil Filter
An oil filter’s purpose is to remove contaminants and impurities from the oil, ensuring optimal engine performance. Over time, the filter can become clogged with debris, restricting the flow of oil and potentially causing low oil levels.
Make sure to replace your oil filter according to your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. To make it easy, simply replace the oil filter at the same time as you change your oil. You are changing your oil at regular intervals, right?
