ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD ALL DO MORE OF

Checking the oil level in your car is not something that many drivers think about that much. Particularly, if you have a modern car where you have an electronic display and it tells you that you have a certain number of miles before you need to check your car in for an ‘oil service’.

However, prior to the advent of electronic displays, we all knew that good car care included frequent oil changes if we were to keep our cars on the road, problem-free, for longer.

That’s still true today. Even nowadays, frequent oil changes will flush abrasive dirt and metal particles out of the engine prolonging its life. This is especially true if you drive regularly in stop-and-go traffic, like you might do on a daily commute or school run.

So, to keep on top of your oil situation, how about getting into the habit of checking your engine oil levels every other time that you go to fill-up your car with fuel?

To take an accurate reading on your oil levels, follow these simple steps:

1. Drive your car for about 15 minutes to warm up the oil. Then, park your car in a level place. Once you have done that, turn off the engine and wait another 15 minutes to allow the oil in the engine to drain back into the oil reservoir.
2. Once you’ve done that, open the bonnet, remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a paper towel or rag.
3. Next, reinsert the dipstick (make sure you push it all the way in) then pull it out again to check the oil level. It should be somewhere between the marks on the dipstick.
4. If it is, then the oil level in your engine is OK.
5. If, however, the oil level is below the lowest mark (you’ll find more detail for your specific car in your owners manual), add the type and amount of oil as specified in your manual and you’ll be good to go again safe in the knowledge that you are taking the best care of your car.

I hope that you found this tip helpful.