Oftentimes, we take our vehicles for granted. Since a majority of the general public is not experienced auto mechanics, we just assume that if we fill the car with gas and take it for an oil change that it won’t do us wrong. Assuming that you also take your car in for scheduled tuneups, then the aforementioned statement is generally true.
Still, you or someone else should do a few things a couple of times every month to ensure that your car doesn’t let you down. Besides checking your car’s tire pressure, says Jeremy Wolfson, the owner of Benchmark Auto Service in Minnesota, you should also actively monitor the engine oil and antifreeze levels.
Engine oil: Engine oil, or motor oil, is a lubricant that greases the moving parts of your engine so that they move smoothly and function properly. In addition, the oil also cleans the engine, prevents it from corroding, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from the moving parts and reducing the risk that your car will overheat. But, if you don’t have the right level of oil, then your engine is put under unnecessary stress and can become severely damaged.
Once or twice a month, depending on how often you use your vehicle, you should check the level of oil in your engine. With these steps, the process is both quick and easy.
- First, only check your oil when your engine is cool. Not only will heat alter the reading, but touching a hot engine could be painful.
- Open your hood and secure any latches to make sure that your hood stays open.
- Locate the dipstick. It will be a long metal piece that sticks out of your engine. It will also have a loop on the end that is usually a bright color or has the word “oil” clearly marked on it.
- Once you’ve found it, grab the loop of the dipstick and pull it all the way out of the engine.
- Completely wipe off the entire dipstick with a clean rag or paper towel, and then place the dipstick back into the engine through the slot you pulled it out of. It’s important to make sure that it is completely in the engine again.
- After a second or two, pull the dipstick back out again and hold it horizontally in front of you. Visually locate how far up the dipstick the oil has deposited on.
- You should see a few lines engraved onto the metal. One will be next to the word “full” towards the top of the dipstick which indicates that you have enough oil. There will also be a line engraved towards the bottom of the metal which indicates your oil is at a dangerously low level. Desirably, when you look at the dipstick, the oil residue should be at least an equal distance between the two.
- You may conclude that you do not need to add any oil at all. But, if the level is low, then add the appropriate amount of oil recommended for your car. Consult with your mechanic or owner’s manual for the specific type you should be using.
Antifreeze: In addition to your oil level, you should also check your antifreeze or coolant levels. If you’re unfamiliar with what antifreeze does, the engine of a car produces elevated levels of heat when it is running. The antifreeze and coolant fluids flow through the radiator system and help pull some of the heat away from the engine so it doesn’t overheat. In colder weather, it also prevents the water in the radiator system from freezing.
Similar to your engine oil, these levels are easy to monitor as well. In fact, you can probably check both within a half hour.
- Again, make sure your car engine is cool.
- Open the hood of your car and find the coolant container. Typically, it is a clear plastic tank that is specifically labeled. It will also have hoses that connect to a reserve tank for the same type of fluid.
- Check the reserve container to see if the levels are high or low, as there will be lines on the container which indicate the proper levels.
- If the levels are low, then add the fluid only into the reserve tank. If the main compartment needs any more fluid, the reserve will properly distribute it.
