So, the other day, I noticed my car’s temperature gauge was creeping up way higher than usual. I was like, “Uh oh, that ain’t good.” I’m no mechanic, but I know enough to realize that high oil temperature is something you don’t ignore.
First thing I did was pull over, pop the hood, and let things cool down. I didn’t want to risk driving any further and potentially messing things up even worse. It Took a long time to cool down, and after that, check the oil level.
I checked the oil dipstick, and it was definitely low. Not bone dry, but low enough to make me wonder. I also looked for any obvious leaks under the car, didn’t see any at that moment.
My Next Steps
- Adding Oil:I always keep a spare quart of oil in my trunk (lesson learned from past experiences!), so I topped it off to the “full” mark.
- Checking the Coolant: Oil temperature can be related to coolant issues, so I checked the coolant reservoir. It was a bit low, too, so I added some 50/50 coolant/water mix that I, also, always put in the trunk.
- Slow Drive Home: I babied the car the rest of the way home, keeping an eye on the temperature gauge. It stayed a little higher than normal, but not in the danger zone.
Once I got home, I did some more investigating. I checked for leaks again, this time more thoroughly. I found some oil residue around the oil filter, and I remembered that the Oil Change guy recommended to change the new one at last maintain. bingo! I found it!
So, I went and got a new oil filter, did a full oil change myself (which is actually pretty easy, plenty of YouTube videos out there). Tightened everything up properly, double-checked for leaks, and… problem solved!
The temperature gauge is back to normal, and the engine sounds much happier. I’m guessing the old oil filter was either clogged or leaking slowly, causing the low oil level and high temperature.
Moral of the story? Pay attention to your car’s gauges, and don’t ignore warning signs. A little bit of preventative maintenance can save you a big headache (and a big repair bill) down the road!
