Not all engine noises are easily identifiable. Learn which engine sounds could spell bad news for your car, what all of those sounds likely mean, and what you should do when you hear each of them.

How to Identify Sounds Under the Hood of Your Car

We all know that owning a vehicle isn't as simple as just walking into a dealership, handing over your money, and then driving away with a car that will never break and never breakdown. In fact, most car owners are well aware that their car will require maintenance. The challenge, however, is to know what is regular, and what to listen out for. To help you out, USA Synthetics has a post to share with some of the most common noises which should alarm you while you drive, what they may mean, and what you should do.

Squeaks and Squeals

Have ever seen a car driving down the road emitting a high pitched squeal or screech as it went past? That's likely to be the fan belt. The fan belt keeps a fan spinning on your radiator to help keep your engine cool. If it becomes loose, the first thing that it does is make a high-pitched noise. If it's the fan belt, then it's likely time for a replacement. If you aren't sure how to do it yourself, the best place would be your mechanic. A fan belt isn't an expensive item, so don't hesitate on getting it fixed, because if it breaks, it can cause your car to overheat and you to get stuck.

Hissing Sounds

Many of your car's mechanical and safety features rely on pressurized hoses to transport air or liquids. When a small tear occurs, the pressure emits a hissing sound. This is often accompanied by puddles of liquid forming underneath your car. No hissing sound is a good sound when it comes to the engine of a car. If you can hear a hissing sound, then it is best to have your mechanic look at it further. If you continue to drive it and the problem occurs, it could not only cause engine damage but interfere with the ability of your vehicle's safety features to operate. If it is a fluid leak, be sure that you or your mechanic use a high-quality replacement motor oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to keep your engine in good shape. If you aren't sure which is the right engine lubricant for your car, speak with an expert at USA Synthetics by calling (405) 388-6170. Alternatively, the online store has more information about each of the products available to help you get the right engine oil for you.

Grinding Sound

If you can hear a grinding sound each time that you apply pressure to the brakes, then the next place that you drive should be to the car store to pick up some new brake pads. When your brake pads are in good condition, a thick fiber pushes against your wheel, slowing it down without damaging the wheel itself. The grinding noise that you are hearing is likely to be a small pin in the brake pads themselves. When your pads wear too low, this small pin grinds against your wheel and makes the noise to tell you it's time for a replacement. If you leave this to go for too long, the pin can and will start to damage the wheel of your car, leaving you with an expensive replacement bill.

Does Your Car Sound Like a Race Car?

If it does, it's likely to be your exhaust. Your exhaust system is responsible for removing fumes and smoke out of your engine and through your tailpipe. If you can hear a loud roaring noise from the back of your car, you likely have a hole in your tailpipe. The best solution is to head to an exhaust service store and have it repaired or replaced. Additionally, you might hear a clunking sound as you drive, especially when you drive over bumps on the road. This is often caused by a loose tailpipe and isn't anything major to worry about; it just needs to be tightened.

Prevent Engine Noises With a Synthetic Oil Change in Edmond

If you hear any grinding sounds coming from your engine, it could be that your engine oil level is low, and your engine is operating without sufficient lubrication. Instead of just topping up, speak with USA Synthetics at (405) 388-6170 and ask about which replacement engine lubricant is best suited to your vehicle, such as AMSOIL's  Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil, designed to get the best performance out of modern engines. If you know the product type you're after, and just want to learn more information about it, head over to the online store for more information.