Drivers who don't know very much about cars may be ignoring signs of a serious issue simply because they don't know what to look out for. To ensure you're ready to detect an issue, use these tips.

How to Know Your Car Has a Problem

When your car develops an issue, it will often communicate this to you. However, if you don't know what signs to look out for, you may not notice there's anything wrong. To help you identify these issues before they grow, check out these tips.

Trouble Starting the Engine

When you try to start your car, it shouldn't struggle to turn on. Sometimes, extremely cold temperatures or not driving your car for a while can lead the battery to have some issues, but these can be solved pretty quickly. However, if this happens often, it's time to get it checked out by a professional. It could be an issue with your battery, but it can also be due to faulty spark plugs, an electrical issue, or something else. Before you decide your battery needs to be replaced, get the opinion of a professional. Don't let this go on for too long because you can be left stranded with a car that just won't turn on.

Smoke Coming from Your Car

Smoke of any sort is a very bad sign. If you're driving and you notice that there's smoke or steam coming out from under the hood of your car, pull over and turn off your can as soon as you can. This smoke can be the result of your car overheating, which can lead to costly engine damage. Don't risk it and simply pull over and turn off your car. Let it cool down before opening the hood and checking the cooling system. Look for signs of a coolant leak and check the reservoir to see how much coolant you have left. If you're running out of coolant often, then you likely have a leak. Have your car checked by a professional to find the source of the issue and get it fixed before it destroys your engine.

Squeaking Brakes

Your car's brakes are super important for your safety and the safety of others on the road, so don't forget about them. It can be easy to lose sight of them until there's an issue. If you notice squeaking or screeching whenever you're coming to a stop, then it's definitely time to get your brakes checked. This squeaking will happen when your brake pads are worn and can be causing damage to the rotor or drum. If you let this screeching go on for too long, it can turn into grinding and more damage. To keep your engine in better shape, give it a synthetic oil change in Minneapolis. AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil is a great option if you want to have your engine running stronger for longer. You can find even more great products like this by contacting the friendly oil pros at All Service Oil. Give them a call at (763) 257-3130 or visit their online store to learn more or to place your order!

Strange Smells Coming from Your Car

If you notice a weird smell when you're driving around, make sure it's not coming from your car. There are certain smells that can indicate there is an issue, so don't ignore these. For example, if you turn on your air conditioning only to get the smell of a dirty gym bag, there may be mold in your vents. It's not a good idea to breathe this in, so get it checked out as soon as you can. If you notice a sweet smell like maple syrup, you likely have a coolant leak. Smelling fuel in the cabin is also a bad sign, so get to your mechanic and have them check it out.

Dashboard Lights Turning On

Finally, when your car's dashboard lights turn on, get the issue taken care of right away. Whether it's the check engine light, your oil light, or anything in between, ignoring a dashboard light can cause whatever the issue is to grow and get worse. When one of these lights turns on and is flashing, this means the issue needs to get fixed urgently. A mechanic will be able to tell you exactly what's wrong since they have a code reader they can plug into your car.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Minneapolis

Give your car a synthetic oil change in Minneapolis to keep it running at its best. Contact the friendly oil pros at All Service Oil to find the products you need for your next oil change. Contact them at (763) 257-3130 to learn more or to place your order.