How to tell if the engine is damaged from no oil

Engine oil is a vital engine ingredient used for engine lubrication. The oil is designed to reduce the friction of various moving engine components. If the engine is not properly lubricated it usually means that those components are in danger from premature wear and tear which can even destroy an engine completely.

Engine oil also cleans and cools down the engine while forming a tight seal between the components. It is used to transfer energy from one part to the other, prevent corrosion and dampen the shock from multiple parts coming in contact with each other.

If your engine is not oiled properly, your dashboard oil pressure warning is likely to come on. Furthermore, if you smell any burnt engine odors, be sure to turn off the car to minimize potential damages. Lack of engine performance and overheating are also present with engines suffering from lack of oil.

The easiest way to avoid coming in contact with any of these issues, be sure to follow all your regular oil change interevals. Grinding noises and a dead engine are the two worst types of symptoms how one can tell that the engine requires serious repair work.

Dashboard oil pressure warning light

The most obvious sign of lack of oil is an oil pressure warning light on your dashboard. This should be your first warning that something is not as it should be, so be sure to turn off your car and find out if lack of oil is indeed the issue.

  Are American or Japanese cars more reliable?

If you ignore the oil pressure warning light you are at a high risk of the engine seizing up which can end catastrophically. This warning light only comes on when the pressure is too low which means that your engine is not being properly lubricated.

Burnt oil smell

Burning oil smells are a common symptom of oil leaks which is a serious issue that should never go unnoticed. The smell is usually caused by oil drips that come in contact with hot engine components which can not only damage the engine itself but can also start a fire.

As such, be sure to turn off the car and let it cool down before you do anything else. When the car cools down, check the dipstick and look under the car to see if there are any oil puddles on the ground.

Bad engine performance and overheating

As previously stated, the oil is used to lubricate the engine in order for the engine to run as smoothly as possible. If the engine is experienced a severe lack of oil, you will be able to hear grinding noises and the engine will not operate smoothly as it usually does.

This usually means that the friction levels between engine components are increased thus increasing the engine operating temperature. This is a serious issue that can even result in the engine bursting in flames or completely locking up.

Engine stalling

If your engine keeps on stalling constantly, it usually means that there is something severely wrong with the engine. This can be caused by a myriad of different issues with both the engine and the transmission, but very often it leads to a lack of oil.

  Can You Change the Oil in a Mercedes Yourself?

In order for the engine to operate at all, it needs a decent level of oil to lubricate the components. If your engine keeps stalling it means that all the moving engine components are grinding and clashing with each other which can often cause the engine to stall.

Bad fuel economy

The purpose of engine oil is to help your engine perform at its very best which means that if everything is in order, you should be getting your average MPG results. However, if the engine suffers from a lack of proper lubrication it can also cause the engine to use more fuel to operate at all.

All of this means that your MPG results are going to worsen over time. Be sure to keep a sentient eye on your fuel economy and always try to find reasons why the engine uses more or less fuel. All of these symptoms need to be addressed immediately in order to prevent further engine damage.

FAQ Section

How often do I need to change engine oil?

In most cases, older cars require oil replacements every 3000 miles or so. Relatively newer cars can last more than 5000 miles without needing an oil replacement. However, the newest cars which use high-grade synthetic oil can go as much as 15000 miles without needing an oil replacement.

Be that as it may, the best thing you can do is follow all your regular service intervals and leave the oil replacement to the professionals. Automakers have their recommendations on when it’s best to change the oil so be sure to follow those recommendations above any other.

  Are independent mechanics cheaper than dealerships?

What are the types of engine oil?

There are a few different types of engine oil that mostly differ when it comes to viscosity levels and whether the oil is of a conventional or synthetic origin. As such, conventional oil is your standard go-to type of engine oil mostly used on older vehicles.

Full-synthetic oils are developed in laboratories and are being used in modern-day cars. There are all sorts of special engine oils designed for commercial vehicles or high-mileage vehicles as well. However, the only type of oil that should interest you is the one written in your car’s owner’s manual.

Do electric cars need oil?

EVs use an entirely different engineering basis when it comes to powertrains. As such, EVs don’t require any engine oil because they are not equipped with countless moving parts as in a combustion engine. An EV is powered by a battery which means that there is no need for pistons or vales.

However, an EV still requires different fluid changes such as the case with coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid. However, it’s always best to just follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding servicing no matter which type of car you own.

Marko Mikulic

Why do you love writing about cars? I love writing about cars as cars are a huge personal interest of mine. I was raised in a car enthusiast community and ever since I was young, I always wanted to do car-related work.

Recent Posts