Does Your Nissan Need a New Catalytic Converter in College Park, MD?

Motor oil keeps all the moving parts of your engine properly lubricated. Without adequate oil, an engine will rapidly overheat and might even seize up altogether. Keep an eye out for the following six signs of a leak. If you ever notice your engine leaking oil, visit your nearest Nissan dealer to have it repaired right away. Oil Is Puddling Under Your Car The most obvious sign of an oil leak is when you see oil pooling under your car while parked. Motor oil is a golden yellow color when fresh. This fades to caramel, then tan, then dark brown as it ages. more Any fluid pooling under your car is a sign of trouble. But if that fluid is yellow or brown and near the front of your vehicle, then it might well be a motor oil leak. Use Cardboard to Check If you have a dedicated parking space, it's easy to notice any leaks coming from your car. But drivers who change parking locations from day to day don't necessarily find it so easy. If you ever suspect a leak, you can leave a piece of cardboard under your car and check it for fluid stains when you return. Low Reading on Your Oil Pressure Gauge The oil pressure gauge on your dashboard will also let you know if your engine's leaking oil. Healthy oil pressure for most Nissan cars is between 25 and 65 pounds per square inch (PSI) while the engine's warm. If this pressure drops below 25 PSI, it’s possible that you might have a leak. Ticking or Knocking Sounds From Your Engine An engine that loses lubrication will start to emit strange ticking and knocking sounds. You'll notice these sounds most clearly while resting in idle. Ticking or knocking means the valves and valve lifters are beginning to struggle. If you hear it, have a trusted technician take a look as soon as you can. Smoke Rising From Your Engine When motor oil starts to leak, it sometimes drips onto extremely hot parts of the engine or the exhaust manifold. It will then burn up very quickly, creating smoke. Needless to say, never ignore any smoke seeping from under your hood. You Can Smell Burning Oil When leaking oil starts to burn, you'll often smell it. Burning oil smells unpleasant and very different from your usual car smells. When oil burns in this way, you might also hear an accompanying sizzling sound as it cooks on the hot metal parts of your car. Oil Level Consistently Low When suspecting a leak, you can always pop the hood and use a dipstick to measure your motor oil level. Motor oil tends to diminish gradually over time, even without a leak. But if your oil level is persistently lower than you think it should be, you may well have a leak. First Places a Nissan Dealer Checks for Leaks Here's how a technician at your local dealership will check your vehicle for engine leaks. You can try it yourself before you take your car in.   They'll first check the oil pan seals under your engine, which is where the majority of leaks originate. They'll also check the valve cover gaskets, the timing cover seal, and the oil pan drain plug. More often than not, one of these is the culprit. Get directions to DARCARS Nissan of College Park now, or schedule a service with us today to have your motor oil checked and topped up. We take pride in providing excellent vehicles and customer service.

When the tires are in good shape, your Nissan will likely meet your performance demands flawlessly. However, if your tire tread is a bit thin or your tire pressure’s low, you may notice a difference in the performance of your vehicle. To maintain your car's performance, you should schedule Nissan tire maintenance regularly at your local dealership. What is Considered Tire Maintenance? To keep your tires in good condition for road safety and performance, you should book services like, tire rotations and alignments. Check out your owner's manual for more details about your Nissan, or feel free to visit our Service Center. more Tire Inspections You should visually inspect your tires weekly so you can spot early signs of tire trouble, like bulging side walls, cracks, or other visible damage. If you see something stuck in your tire, like a nail or other debris, it's best to contact your dealership to book tire service right away. A certified Nissan technician can conduct a more thorough inspection by checking tire integrity, the wear on the tires, and air pressure. Tire Rotation A main reason you need routine tire rotations is to make sure the tire tread is wearing evenly on all four tires. Uneven tire tread wear can cause handling difficulties on the road and can have a negative impact on the performance of your vehicle. Your mechanic can recommend a tire replacement if the tread is too thin on any of the tires. Tire Alignment and Balancing Other common tire services are alignment and balancing. A tire alignment ensures all four of your tires are all aligned. This can help improve your vehicle handling, while tire balancing adjusts weight distribution so that your vehicle has a smoother ride. If you notice your vehicle is drifting or pulling to one side of the road, it might be because your wheels need an alignment or to be balanced. Tire Inflation You should also keep an eye on the air pressure in individual tires, especially during extreme weather. When tire pressure is low, this can cause excess friction. A monthly air pressure check on your tires with a manual tool is a good idea, or be sure to often check your car's tire monitoring system. Have Tire Service Questions? Contact our College Park, MD Nissan Service Center When you take care of your tires, you should be able to keep using them longer. Routine tire service can help prolong the life of your tires and help your vehicle perform better. Book your tire service at DARCARS Nissan of College Park.

While you may go to a dealership when you want to buy a car, there are also many options offered by your local Nissan dealer that go far beyond purchasing new. Used vehicles, maintenance, collision repair and even car washes are available to owners when they go to their local Nissan Service Center. Servicing and Repair Everyone loves that new car smell, but cars need to be checked regularly if they are going to keep running well. Every car will have a slightly different servicing schedule that is affected by the amount you drive, the age of the car, and how well it's been maintained. The certified techs at your local dealership are highly qualified to explain what will best suit the needs of your particular car. more Ordering Parts When something does go wrong, using certified Nissan parts can help keep your car under warranty. Order your part through the dealership and schedule installation there too. This can help minimize the amount of time you have to be without your vehicle. Using certified Nissan parts can also help to maintain your car's resale value. Tire Rotation Every driver has their own style, as well as over time driving the vehicle can cause tires to wear unevenly. Rebalancing and rotating tires can help to preserve the suspension of your car, as well as help keep your gas mileage maximized. Bringing your car to the same place that does your servicing means it can all happen at the same time. Oil Changes Although the schedule can vary from car to car, your vehicle needs to get routine oil changes to run properly. Taking your car to the local Nissan service center for all your oil changes will make sure that your car is getting serviced by professionals and that any of the correct parts will match your model. Using OEM brand oil filters will help keep your car running at optimum levels, and you can trust our technicians to use the right type of oil. Collision Repair Sometimes accidents happen. When they do, you want to make sure your car will get repaired by certified technicians. Your local Collision Center works with insurance companies and can handle all types of repairs. We also offer free estimates, can make towing arrangements, offer rental cars on-site, and have a complimentary local shuttle. Also, all repairs include a complimentary car wash, so your vehicle comes back looking like new! Learn More About Services at Our College Park, MD Nissan Dealership In addition to a friendly and helpful staff, our service center has free Wi-Fi and complimentary coffee, so even your wait time is made comfortable! Schedule your next service appointment at DARCARS Nissan of College Park, and experience the excellence of Nissan.