Examining and Topping Up the Oil in Your Automobile

It is important to maintain your oil at the correct level to help safeguard and extend the life span of movable engine parts. If your engine doesn’t have ample oil, it may be seriously damaged, sometimes beyond repair. You should try and check your oil levels each week; if you spot leaks on your drive or car port floor, or if your car seems to be losing an abnormal quantity of oil, you may have an engine leak.

Additionally, you’ll need to change your oil and oil filter no less than once a year; a few manufactures suggest changing the oil every 3,000 miles to keep maximum performance.

Checking the Oil

Looking at your oil level is really a fairly simple process.

1. Park the car on a level surface and wait for the engine to cool down so that the oil has time to settle into the sump.

2. Open and secure the hood.

3. Find the dipstick; this will usually be near the front of the engine at one side. Many times, it has a brightly colored handle (red, yellow or orange) that will help you find it.

4. Take the dipstick out of its tube and wipe it clean with a clean rag.

5. Push the dipstick gradually all the way into its tube, and after that pull it out again.

6. Take a look at the oil level on the dipstick; it ought to be between the top and bottom limits marked on the dipstick.

7. When the level is near the lower mark, or below it, then you need to top-up.

Whilst you’re checking the oil level, take a look at the colour of the oil. If it’s very dark brown or black, it will need to be changed. If the oil is milky or coffee coloured, then it means that the engine coolant has become mixed with the oil, indicating a significant engine problem such as a blown cylinder head gasket.

Topping Up the Oil

1. Look for the oil filler cap, which is usually on top of the engine, clearly marked ‘oil’.

2. Unscrew the cap carefully and place to one side.

3. Pour in about a litre of oil, using a funnel if required. You should make sure that you use the same type and brand of engine oil that is already in the engine.

4. Wait a minute for the oil to drain down to the bottom of the engine, and then recheck the dipstick level using the method shown above.

5. Repeat until the oil level is about halfway between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick. However, you have to take care not to overfill, as this can cause leaks.

6. Replace the dipstick and close the oil filler cap.

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