Disksticks! Over half of automobile owners never check their oil

Oil is the lifeline of your vehicle's engine. The engine could catch fire and stop in a couple of seconds if it didn't have oil. Oil greases your engine and protects it from the two most dangerous enemies of any engine: friction and heat. Wear is caused by friction and heat. Your engine will ultimately fail due to wear. Oil degrades over time due to friction and heat. This is why the engine oil & filter must be changed on a regular basis.Changing the engine oil and filter per 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or as advised by your vehicle's manufacturer, is one of the most critical and cost-effective activities you can do to extend the life of your vehicle. Inspecting the amount and quality of the engine oil will inform you of this key maintenance item while also allowing you to become acquainted by what occurs to the engine oil in your car. Inspect the engine oil at least once per month, or whenever you fill up your gas tank. It's also a good idea to keep an oil change decal along the inside of the windshield to notify you when it's time for an oil change.

To properly examine the engine oil oil level, park the car on a reasonably level surface, turn off the engine, lift the bonnet, allow the oil to flow down through into engine pan for several minutes, and then find the engine oil dipstick, which normally does have a bright yellow grip that reads "engine oil." Take the dipstick out, clean this with a tissue towel or cloth, and then push it the whole way back in till it is completely seated. Remove it once more and check your engine oil level. Also on bottom of the dipstick, there is usually a portion of cross hatches with a line just at bottom as well as a line just at top.The upper line represents the greatest possible full mark. This amount of oil should not be exceeded. The bottom line is the lowest threshold and generally indicates that the motor oil is about a quart low. Whenever the engine is cold, the liquid level should be at the cross hatch portion as well as at or just below the full mark. Whereas if engine oil level is low, it may signal that the engine is leaking or eating oil. It is usual as a vehicle to consume some oil throughout the engine change period, but this should not be excess.It is also critical to check the engine condition. The colour and quality of the oil reveal its age. As particles from the motor and the combustion engines process enter the oil, the colour of the oil gradually changes from golden to brown to black. Engine oil in excellent condition will be transparent, like golden honey. Darker brown to black oil signals that the motor oil and oil filter should be changed. It is critical to examine the oil for signs of pollution as well as metal particles that might signal internal engine issues.

If motor oil changes have indeed been ignored, carbon compounds and sludge are likely to have accumulated in the engine. To check for this, unscrew your engine oil inlet valve and check into the engine using a flashlight. If the visible internal engine parts are coated in thick black residues and sludge, this indicates that the engine oil has not really been changed on a regular basis. If you can see thick black slime on the engine's top, it most likely persists throughout the engine. If the automobile you're looking at is one you're thinking about purchasing, it's best to avoid it if it displays evidence of carelessness when it comes to oil changes.Take a few minutes the next time you check up your car with petrol to evaluate its engine oil level and condition. Make sure you're well aware about your next motor oil and filter replacement due date, and stick to it. Check your owner's handbook to ensure you're using the appropriate type of lubricating oil. You'd be amazed how good an engine will survive if the oil and filters are changed on a regular basis.

Follow this easy 9-point technique to checking your oil level with a dipstick:

Check your vehicle's owner's manual to see if the manufacturer suggests checking the oil level while the engine is warm or cold.

Check that your car is parked on such a firm, flat surface.

Open the hood and locate your dipstick. (The location is specified in your vehicle's owner's handbook.)

To eliminate the oil residue, take the dipstick completely out again and wipe it clean

Two notches towards the bottom of the dipstick must be noted. The upper and lower limits oil levels must be determined by these two points

Replacing the dipstick in the engine, carefully draw it out all the way to testing the oil level.

On the dipstick, the oil residue should be between lower and upper bounds.

You must refill your oil level if somehow the oil residue falls below the minimal marking

Check your owner's handbook for the appropriate oil grade for your vehicle.

Whether you have a dipstick or not, ABE’s mechanics can easily check your oil or transmission fluids. It’s all part of our Car Check. ABE also checks and changes the fluids during regular car maintenance or a scheduled tune-up