How To Check Your Oil In 8 Steps

Checking your vehicle’s engine oil is a quick and simple maintenance project that almost any driver can do themselves. Even if you don’t feel up to the task of changing your own engine oil, chances are that you will be able to check it yourself. Most models should have an oil change about every three months or three thousand miles. In between your regularly scheduled oil changes, you can check your engine oil levels to ensure that it has not become too low or dirty.
Follow these simple steps to check your vehicle’s engine oil:

Find a Lint Free Rag
Locate a lint free rag or a scrap of old fabric to use when checking your oil. An old t-shirt usually works great

Read Your Owner’s Manual
If you are extremely unfamiliar with what is under the hood of your vehicle, you will find a detailed description of where your dipstick is located in your owner’s manual.

Warm Up Your Car
It is best to check your oil while it is warm. A great time to check you oil is after a quick trip to a local market or around your neighborhood.

Turn Your Car Off
Make sure that you turn your vehicle off before you begin the process of check its oil.

Pop the Hood
Pull the handle located on the inside of your vehicle, usually on the side of the driver side door, and the press the lever located underneath the center of the hood. Make sure that the hood of your car is securely propped. There’s no point in feeling embarrassed if you do not know how to open your hood. Check this short video for a clue

Locate the Dipstick
On most models, the dipstick is located on the left side of the engine. The dipstick usually has a yellow or orange circular handle that is clearly visible. When you pull this handle, a long piece of metal will slide out of the engine.

Clean the Dipstick and Reinsert
Once you locate and remove the dipstick, clean it with your rag and slide it back in. Make sure that the dipstick is inserted all the way back in.

Remove the Dipstick and Inspect
Next, remove the dipstick once more. Look at the end of the dipstick. Some models will have a line marked “full” while others will have a textured area that represents the capacity of the oil pan. The oil will appear amber in color. It should be easy to discern the oil level by looking at the dipstick.

– Normal Oil Level
If the dipstick indicates that the oil level is normal, reinsert it.
– Low Oil Level or Dirty Oil
If the dipstick indicates that the oil level is low, touch the end of the dipstick with two fingers and feel of the texture of the oil. If the oil is clean, you can add new oil using a funnel. If the oil is gritty, it is necessary to have your oil changed as soon as possible.
Checking your vehicle’s oil level is a simple task that takes only a few minutes to perform. Knowing how to check your oil will enable you to ensure that your engine is being properly lubricated.

CARS

TIPS TO PREPARE FOR THE COLD WEATHER

Wintry weather can take its toll on cars and difficult driving conditions can catch you by surprise.

But with a bit of planning, you can ensure your car is ready for the winter weather.

Below we provide a run-down of essential maintenance tips.

1. CHECK YOUR OIL LEVELS AND DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR FUEL LIGHT
Check your oil level is between the minimum and maximum mark on your car’s dipstick. The RAC says one in three vehicles its patrols attend are dangerously low on oil[1], which can lead to a breakdown or engine damage. You should check the oil level once your car is fully warmed up. A cold car will look low on oil. Remember, too much oil can be as bad as too little.

You should check you have plenty of fuel in your tank, too. Don’t try and eek out the last few miles if your fuel light comes on. It might be nice and warm in your car, but it’s better to go out into the cold at a petrol station rather than end up stranded on the side of the road.

2. KEEP YOUR LIGHTS CLEAN
Cars get extremely dirty in winter months, not least because of all the salt on the roads. So it’s particularly important to keep your lights clean – you can just wipe them over with a cloth if your car doesn’t have headlamp washers.

You can lose an estimated 40% of luminosity in about 20 miles on a damp, gritted motorway, according to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart[2].

Wipe down your number plate too. You could face a fine if you drive around with an unreadable registration plate. Also, have someone stand outside the car and check all the lights work properly.

3. TEST YOUR BATTERY
A flat or faulty battery is the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns, according to both the RAC[3] and Green Flag[4], and the risk of battery failure is greater in cold, wet and icy weather.

Aim to change your car’s battery every three years if possible, or sooner if it’s causing you problems in the cold weather.

Green Flag says warning signs of battery failure include the engine turning over more slowly than usual when you start it. Also, the red battery light in the instrument display may flicker when you’re driving or take longer than usual to go out after you’ve started the engine.

4. PAY ATTENTION TO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS
Many people don’t know what the warning lights on their dashboard mean – as we demonstrated in a street survey.

So with winter closing in, now would be a good time to get to know what all of these lights mean. And if one appears on your dashboard, get it checked out as soon as possible.

How well do you know the warning lights in your car? Test you knowledge with our quiz.

5. ASSESS YOUR TYRES
Worn tyres are dangerous at any time, but especially as stopping distances increase in icy, snowy or wet conditions.

Tyres need a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm by law, but experts recommend you change tyres at 3mm to maintain safe stopping distances[5]. Don’t forget to check you have a roadworthy spare too.

If you drive on rural or uneven roads, consider investing in some snow chains/socks or winter tyres.

6. CHECK WIPER BLADES AND TOP UP ON WINDSCREEN WASH
Check your wipers are in good condition, with no tears or holes, and can clean your windscreen properly. You can give them a wipe with a clean cloth every now and then. But, as Auto Windscreens warns, don’t pull wiper blades off frozen glass or turn them on if the screen is iced over, as the rubber may tear.

You’ll need plenty of washer fluid too – it’s surprising how often you need to do this in the winter when wet, muddy or salty roads increase the amount of spray hitting your windscreen. Not only is it dangerous to not have fluid in a vehicle’s screen washer bottle, it’s illegal too.

7. TOP UP ANTIFREEZE
Antifreeze stops the water in the engine’s cooling system from freezing, so make sure yours is topped up.

Coolant should be changed every 2 – 5 years, depending on the car and the type of coolant required.

8. CHECK IF YOUR CAR IS DUE A SERVICE
Like many of the tips above, this is important all year-round, but winter just makes it that bit more urgent.

A service is usually recommended every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes sooner. But every car is different, so check your owner’s handbook for the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. In some areas, it can take a couple of weeks for the garage to fit you in for a service, plan ahead and make sure you’re booked in in good time.

9. CHECK YOUR BRAKES
Your brakes need to be in tip-top condition, especially in winter.

If they squeal, make other noises or generate unusual sensations, get them checked. If you’re taking your car out after a few days left unused in the cold, set off gently in case the discs, calipers or handbrake have frozen up.

10. CARRY THE RIGHT GEAR
Ensure you have the items below in your car, just in case:
– Ice scraper and de-icer
– Warning triangle
– Warm clothing and a blanket, rug or -sleeping bag
– Practical footwear like wellies
– Torch and batteries
– Mobile phone and charger

CARS

Most Important Car Maintenance Tips

Basic vehicle maintenance keeps your car running smoothly and can prevent breakdowns and even accidents. Some of these tasks you can do yourself, while others require taking your vehicle to a mechanic for annual car maintenance. Your manufacturers’ handbook will let you know how often regular maintenance is needed and the frequency that your car will need to be serviced. Follow these car maintenance tips to keep your vehicle in good working order:

Tip 1: Take Care of Your Tires
Keeping your tires in good condition isn’t just important for vehicle maintenance. Tires in poor condition pose a dangerous threat to the safety of you and your loved ones. Here are a few tire care items to be mindful of:

Tire pressure – Check your tires’ pressure at least once a month. Underinflated tires affect your fuel efficiency and cost you money.
Tire rotation – Rotate the tires every 5,000-8,000 miles.
Tire condition – Inspect your tires regularly – at the same time you’re checking the tread – for any signs of bulges or bald spots. If you spot any of these danger signs, have the tire replaced as soon as possible.
Uneven wear – Uneven wear on a tire indicates wheel alignment problems. Have the wheels aligned properly as soon as possible.
Spare tire – It’s easy to forget that spare tire stuck in the back of your car. Check it at least once a month to ensure it’s usable if you find yourself having to replace a flat.

Tip 2: Check Fluids
At least every 5,000 miles, check and refill your fluids. These include:

Changing the oil
Checking brake, coolant and/or antifreeze, transmission, washer and power steering fluids.

Tip 3: Check the Battery
When your battery goes dead, you’re stuck. Checking the battery regularly can help you avoid this uncomfortable situation.

You can have your mechanic check the battery or do it yourself via a car battery tester.

Tip 4: Check the Lights
Check your exterior and interior lights regularly.

Besides the headlights, make sure your indicators, brake lights and fog lights are in good working order.

Tip 5: Get an Annual Inspection
At least once a year, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, take your car in for servicing. Your mechanic will check the fuel filters, brake pads and spark plugs and replace them if needed.

The mechanic will also flush the radiator to get rid of the old fluid and replace it with new fluid.

Other annual maintenance includes checking the ABS sensor, timing belt and fuel pressure regulator.

Maintenance