How to Check your Car Oil

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Somya Dhuliya 0 Comments car, car care, Car engine, car love, Car maintenance, Car maintenance DIY, Car oil, cars, Checking, Dipstick, Engine oil

Car oil is an extremely important component of your engine as it functions to increase lubrication and protects the other parts from wear and tear, as well as heat damage. There are several elements that make up the engine such as the connecting rods and the crankshaft. These rods are connected to the pistons of the engine’s cylinders. Their smooth functioning is vital for the engine to run well and your vehicle to be in good shape.

However, the more you drive, the more you’ll end up depleting your engine oil reserves which can lead to engine damage and may even lead to your car breaking down. The repairs following this will be quite expensive.

Hence it is imperative to check your engine oil levels from time to time to ascertain that you have the required amount in order to keep driving. As soon as your car oil level falls below the prescribed limit, it is advisable to get a refill immediately as it will prevent any damage to your car. This is especially necessary if you have an old vehicle that has been driven around a lot. Car oil levels fall faster and need frequent change.

The car oil also moves around as it lubricates various engine parts and it does, it picks up dirt and dust particles which lead to a fall in its purity and effectiveness as well as a buildup of sludge. This also makes checking the car oil important so that you can change the car oil and filter.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you prepare to check your engine oil levels-

Make sure you are on level ground-

Start off by parking your car on a level, uniform road. Switch your engine off and put your parking brakes on. Open up the hood and if you’re unsure of how to go about this, consult your user manual. If your car is on an incline or a sloped surface, any readings taken could be faulty.

After you’ve popped open your hood

Proceed to locate the dipstick. It is easy to locate with a bright handle in the color yellow or orange, and it may have the symbol of an oil can on it. You need to pull this out of its sheath and clean the tip with a paper towel or a rag. Make sure that the towel is clean so as to it prevent any impurities from getting into your engine. The end of the dipstick will have two lines, the one located higher would indicate that your tank is full, the lower one would indicate a critically low level of oil.

Insert this dipstick into the tube of the engine and immerse it fully inside.

Dipstick | How to Check Car Oil — Dipstick

Once again, make sure that there are no impurities on the end of the stick. Pull it out and you will see some oil on the other end of it. If it is between the two lines then your car oil level is satisfactory and you can continue driving, if it falls near or below the lower line then it is high time you get a refill.

There are a few things to keep in mind when checking your car oil level. You should wait for your car your cool down before taking your measurements as high temperatures can affect the reading. However, some cars require you to avoid taking the reading at very cold temperatures so it is important to read the manual beforehand. It is also unadvisable to overfill your tank as it leads to its own set of problems.

In case your oil level has fallen below the given limit, refill it as soon as possible. But before doing so, confirm what kind of oil your engine needs to avoid any problems with your vehicle in the future. It is advised to conduct this testing regularly to find out if you need a car oil change. This is imperative for the health and overall functioning of your vehicle. As mentioned before, oil levels are depleted over time and also become laden with impurities that need to be filtered out at regular intervals. This is a proactive measure to save you from any future troubles and repair costs.

Also Read: Common gearbox problems and why they occur in a car on AutoFlipz Blog page.