Dipstick in the car - how to check the oil level?

The bayonet in the car is under the hood of the car. Depending on the type of vehicle or powertrain, it may have an orange, yellow or white handle. Thanks to the aforementioned colors, it is easy to spot against the background of dark components located under the front sunroof of the car. 

When to check the oil level?

The dipstick in a car is mainly used to check the engine oil level. The fluid is the driving force behind the engine. Regularly making sure it's in the right amount is the best way to avoid catastrophic failure and the associated high repair costs.

The bayonet in the car should be familiarized from every side, especially by owners of older cars. This is because they have high mileage and the wrong amount or quality of oil will result in costly repairs at the auto repair shop. Cars with engines running on mineral oil require a fluid change every 3 km or 000 km. On the other hand, motors running on a synthetic type need to be replaced every 5–000 8 km or once a year, 

Older vehicles can also burn a small amount of oil on every trip, resulting in such wastage that the oil level may become too low and need to be changed more frequently. It is better to use the bayonet in the car at least once a week.

Bayonet in the car - how to use it?

The bayonet in the car is very convenient to use. To use it, you just need to prepare a rag, a paper towel and, optionally, a car owner's manual if one wants to make sure everything is done correctly. The oil is changed about every six months. Regardless of whether the power unit starts regularly or not.

Read the owner's manual of your car first and follow the car manufacturer's recommendations. Some newer vehicles have an electronic oil level gauge, and there is no traditional manual dipstick on the hood to check the oil level.

If you check the oil yourself, make sure the car is on a level surface. The oil dipstick must be used on a cold engine. Therefore, this should not be done immediately after driving. In this situation, the risk of burns is high.

Measuring the oil level in a car chamber - how to read information from the indicator?

When the engine is at the right low temperature, you can open the car hood and aim the dipstick at the car. Pull it out of the engine and wipe the oil off the tip. Then insert the element back into the tube and push it all the way in.

Pull it back out and look on both sides to see the oil level. Every dipstick in a car has a way to indicate the correct fluid level. These can be, for example, two pin holes, the letters L for low and H for high, the abbreviations MIN and MAX, or simply the outlined area. If the top of the oil residue is between the two marks or inside the hatch when the dipstick is removed, the level is OK.

Bayonet in the car - what else is it for?

The dipstick in a car can be used not only to measure the oil level, but also to check that the substance is not contaminated. When we take it out of the chamber and its color becomes translucent and amber, we can tell that the oil is fresh.

However, when the color of the oil turns dark, this is a sign that the substance is absorbing dirt, sludge, and contaminants, which is not normal. Therefore, if a dark brown or blackish oil appears on the dipstick, further steps must be taken to check the condition of the substance.

Sometimes it happens that on the dipstick in the car there will be oil with a white, gray or red tint. In the first two cases, it will suggest a leak from under the cylinder head gasket - this will also be confirmed by the foamy consistency of the liquid. The unusual color occurs when oil mixes with water/coolant inside the engine due to cylinder head leakage.

In turn, a reddish substance will be a signal that ATF (automatic transmission fluid), i.e. automatic transmission fluid mixed with engine oil.

The next issue is viscosity, i.e. oil thickness. When fresh, it should have the consistency of molasses or olive oil. If it becomes excessively black and thick, it must be replaced immediately. It is worth contacting a proven mechanic who will correctly unscrew the plug from the oil pan without damaging it and fill it with fresh substance.