When do I need to check oil in a car?

You bought a car, replaced its oil with a service station, and you are sure that you took care of its engine. Does this mean that you do not need to check the oil until the next change or not?

And when should automobile oil be checked? Doesn't the documentation for the car indicate how many kilometers you need to travel to replace it? Why check it out at all?

When to check the oil

The engine oil of a car is extremely important for the efficient operation of the engine. Its task is to lubricate the internal moving parts of the engine, protect them from rapid wear, keep the engine clean, preventing the accumulation of dirt and preventing it from overheating.

However, when doing its job, the oil is exposed to extreme conditions. With every kilometer it gradually worsens, its additives reduce the effect, metal abrasive particles fall into it, dirt accumulates, water settles ...

Yes, your car has an oil level indicator, but did you know that it warns about oil pressure and not about oil level?

Therefore, if you want to be sure that the oil in your car is in good condition and in normal quantities for efficient engine operation, you need to check it regularly.

Regularly, regularly, how regularly?

You got us! And it's not because we don't know the answer to the question, "When should you check your car oil?" And because there are several answers, and they are all correct. According to some experts, oil should be checked every two weeks, according to others, checking is mandatory before every long trip, and according to still others, the level and condition of the oil are checked at every 1000 km. run.

If you want to know our opinion, we can tell you that we believe that it would be good to take a few minutes of your time at least once a month to quickly check the engine oil level.

How to check?

The action is really simple, and even if you have never done it before, you can do it without problems. What you need is a plain plain clean cloth.

Here's how to check the oil in a car
It is recommended to check the oil in a car with a cold engine (for example, before starting work) or, if the engine was running, wait about 5 to 10 minutes after turning it off to cool down. This will allow the oil to drain completely and you will be able to take a more accurate measurement.

Lift the hood of the car and find the dipstick (usually bright in color and easy to find). Take it out and wipe with a clean cloth. Then lower the dipstick again, wait a few seconds and remove it.

Now all you have to do is evaluate the condition of the oil:

Level of

The first thing you need to do is see what the oil level is. Each of the measuring rods (probes) has "min" and "max" written on it, so look where the oil has left a mark on the rod. If it is in the middle, between “min” and max”, it means that its level is OK, but if it is below “min”, you will have to add oil.

Color and texture

If the oil is brown, clean and clear, everything is fine. However, if it is black or coffee with milk, you probably have a problem and you should visit the service. Also watch out for metal particles, as if they are in the oil, this may indicate internal damage to the engine.

If everything is in order, and the level is exactly correct, the color is good, and there are no metal particles, then wipe the dipstick again and reinstall it, continuing to drive the car until the next oil test. If the level is below the minimum mark, then you need to add oil.

Here's how it works.

First you need oil, but not just oil, but oil only for your car. In each technical documentation attached to each car, there are clear and precise instructions from the manufacturer which oil is suitable for a particular make and model of car.

So do not experiment, but follow the recommendations and choose the right one for your car.

To add oil, you just need to remove the oil filler cap, which is located on top of the engine, insert a funnel into the hole (so as not to spill oil) and add new oil.

Now … there is a subtlety, which is to add a little, slowly and check the level. Start with a little, wait and check the level. If the level is still below or near the minimum line, add a little more and check again. When the level reaches the middle between the minimum and maximum, you have done your job, and all you have to do is close the lid tightly and you're done.

How often should I change the oil in the car?

It’s already clear when you need to check the oil in the car, but you don’t think it’s enough to just check it and top up if necessary? No matter how strictly you check it, after a certain period of time you should completely replace it.

The easiest way to determine exactly when you need to change the oil in your car is to simply look at the manufacturer's recommendations or check the date the car's previous owner entered the last oil change.

Different manufacturers set different oil change times, but as a rule, most adhere to this period once every 15 or 000 km. run.

However, in our opinion, replacement should be done every 10 km. mileage, just to make sure everything is in order.

We also advise you, even if you do not drive the car regularly and it stays in the garage most of the time, change the oil at least once a year, because even if you do not drive it, the oil still loses its properties.

How to change the oil in the car?

If you are very, very poorly versed in the technical part or you don’t care, then you can just start the car and take it to a service station where mechanics will check and change the oil while you drink coffee nearby.

But if you have little time and you know something about the device of the car, you can easily save some money and do it yourself.

The whole oil change process includes several basic procedures: draining the old oil, replacing the oil filter, filling in new oil, checking for leaks and checking the quality of the work performed.

For replacement, you will also need: a convenient container for draining used oil, a funnel (for filling new ones), small clean towels or rags, basic tools for unscrewing and tightening bolts (if necessary).

Do not forget the oil and oil filter!

Start the engine and circle the area for about 5 minutes. This is necessary because when the oil is cold, its viscosity decreases and it becomes a little thicker, making it more difficult to drain. Therefore, let the engine run for a few minutes so that the oil can “soften”. As soon as the oil warms up, do not rush to drain it, but let it cool a little and only then begin to act.
Lock the car and lift it
Open the crankcase lid, place the container just below where the oil will flow, and unscrew the lid. Allow the oil to drain completely and close the drain hole.

• I almost forgot! If your car’s oil filter is located at the top of the engine, you must first remove the filter before draining the oil, because if you remove the filter after draining the oil, you risk that the oil remaining on the filter will return to the engine and eventually some of the old oil will remain in it.
• However, if your filter is located at the bottom of the engine, there is no problem, first drain the oil, and then remove the oil filter.
• Replace the oil filter with a new one. Replace the new oil filter, replace the seals if necessary and tighten it well.
• Add new engine oil. Unscrew the oil cap. Place a funnel and pour oil. Take your time, but slowly fill and check the level so as not to overfill the engine with oil, as this may cause damage.
• Close the lid and check. Start the engine for a few minutes to allow new oil to circulate, then turn off the engine and allow it to cool.
• Then check the oil level, as we described above in the material.

If the oil on the dipstick is between "min" and "max", everything is in order. Now all you have to do is check for leaks, and if there are none, enter the date of the change in the service book of the car, and you're done.