How To Check if Your Car's Engine has the Right Amount of Oil

Prevention is better than cure and this is the reason why you should never take regular car maintenance for granted. There are several things every car owners should check in order to keep their vehicles in good running condition. Aside from checking the tire pressure, condition of lights, and coolant levels, you should also make sure that your car has the right amount of engine oil.

Oil is like the blood of your car's engine. It lubricates the engine's moving parts to prevent metal to metal contact in order to slow down the wear and tear process. The engine oil is also responsible for keeping the engine clean by preventing dirt buildup and by protecting it from harmful deposits.

Considering all the factors, oil plays a crucial role in keeping your car's engine running smoothly and efficiently. As such, you need to make sure that your car's engine has the right amount of oil. Checking the oil level of your car's engine is simple and it could be accomplished in less than a minute--and you only need a rug or towel.

Open the hood of your parked car and make sure that the engine is not running and it is cool. It's also recommended that your car is parked on a flat surface and not on an inclined plane. The next thing you need to do is look for the oil dipstick, which usually comes in color yellow (you can consult your car owner's manual to know the exact location of the oil dipstick). Then, pull the dipstick out and wipe it off clean using a rug or towel. After wiping it off, insert the dipstick back all the way in the tube. Pull the dipstick out again and look at the other end. Now, every dipstick comes with a level indicator that could either have the letters L and H (low and high), the words Min and Max, Full or Low, among others. If the oil is between the two marks, or in the middle between Min and Max, this means that your oil level is fine and enough. On the other hand, if the oil is below or near the minimum mark, you need to add oil.

To add oil, remove the oil filler cap, which usually has a label that says "oil cap" or has an oil icon/symbol. Pull out the dipstick once again and check if you car's engine has the right amount of oil.  You need to ensure that your car has the right amount of oil to keep the engine in good running condition. You can check it every time you fill up for fuel or once a week before you head out on the road.

Remember, prevention is better than cure, which is why you should make sure that your car's engine has the right amount of oil.