Oil Check

Vehicle breakdowns are the worst. We tend to depend upon Vehicles nearly every day for work. Whether going to work, to a friend’s place, or a joy ride, vehicles are used quite a bit these days. A great way to keep up to date with vehicles is to check and see the oil. This is a great habit to get into and will help prevent future breakdowns.

The first thing to do is to park the vehicle on level and even ground. Make sure to wait at least ten minutes or more. This makes sure the oil is nice and cooled down.

Secondly, gather a paper towel or two. It doesn’t have to be paper towels exactly for this step. Tissues or even a rag will do the job just fine. These will be used in a bit when it comes to wiping off the oil from the dipstick.

Now pop open the hood of the vehicle. With the hood open, locate the dipstick. It could take a bit to locate the dipstick if this is new experience. Some vehicles have different dipstick locations so it could vary than a previous owned vehicle. Dipsticks usually have a red, yellow, or orange cover/tab. They may even have a ring type thing that sticks out and makes it easier to grab.

Next thing to do is pull the dipstick out. This is where the paper towels come into play. Use the paper towels to wipe the dipstick clean and free of oil. Wiping the dipstick is a very important part in checking oil. The oil may not come out accurate due to driving or bumps.

Following next is to put the dipstick back where it was pulled from. Then pull it back out but do not wipe it again like earlier. Now examine both sides of the dipstick to see the oil. If the oil is further up on the stick, then the oil amount is plentiful. If it is found lower, then it’s low. Make sure to check for its appearance. It should not look dirty, really black, or milky.

Finally, wipe the dipstick clean from oil after examination. Insert the dipstick back into its home. Shut the hood and keep the newfound information fresh in mind. Determine whether it is fine or if it needs to be taken into the shop. It is all really simple and easy.