subject: Prolong Your Car Engine's Life with Regular Oil Checks [print this page] Prolong Your Car Engine's Life with Regular Oil Checks
Cars are an expensive investment and many of us will rely on our vehicle to last us and our transporting needs for a considerable number of years. Cars are built to last but in order to ensure that they maintain smooth running , we need to do a fair bit of maintenance along the way. There is a list of maintenance activities we should be familiar with to pass our driving tests and in general to make sure we don't get hit with a hefty repair bill if the car gets run down over time.
One of the key checks to make regularly is the oil for your car's engine. Oil is essential to ensure the engine is properly lubricated and operating smoothly. The engine of car with low levels of oil can be louder or make a rattling or a grating noise. It is important that you don't allow your car's engine to get to this point as it can mean a costly replacement will be needed.
Firstly you should be aware of how to check your oil levels; this is done by using a dip stick that can be found in the engine bay. Remove the stick and wipe away all trace of oil from the markers to ensure you get a true reading that is correct. Then replace the dipstick fully and take it out again, you should have the oil level somewhere between the maximum and minimum levels, if not then you need to top up your oil immediately.
Knowing what type of motor oil your vehicle requires is vital to ensuring it operate properly. You can check your vehicle handbook for this requirement or many commercial oil companies will be able to tell you by entering your registration plate online.
Once you have bought the correct oil for your car you need to remove the oil filler cap and pour the oil in, you may need a funnel to stop the oil spilling. If the oil does spill clean it up with kitchen roll or a rag to keep the engine bay clean. Pour the oil a little bit at a time, making sure to check the oil level regularly. With some cars it can take some time for the oil to settle in the system so you may need to come back later to check the levels again. It is a good idea to ensure that the car is parked on a flat to ensure the reading is not obscured.
Once you've topped up your oil your engine should be a bit quieter and run more efficiently. It makes sense to have the engine drained and change the oil every year or as a part of any servicing you get done on the car.
Make sure when buying any used car that you check the oil as soon as possible. Get used car finance on cars to help ease the cost of buying a car, car finance can help you afford a better and safer car.
