How to check the engine oil in your car is a question that not a lot of people know the answer to. Engine oil is an extremely important fluid in any car. It ensures that the components of the engine remain adequately lubricated and the wear and tear is less. Also, it helps in preventing the components from getting hot due to friction between the moving parts. It maintains the elements in normal temperatures and does not allow them to heat up too much. Being so important, you must be aware of the status and health of the engine oil in your car. Let us discuss how to do check engine oil in car accurately –
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How To Check Engine Oil In Your Car?
Many people suggest that you must check the engine oil when it is warm and not under cold conditions. Others suggest that it doesn’t matter whether the engine oil is hot or cold, the reading remains the same. Well, the answer is somewhere in between. It is not a good idea to check the engine oil when the temperature is too cold because it contracts at low temperatures. Also, you must not check it when it is boiling hot immediately after a long drive for your own safety. Generally, one must switch on the car for 5-10 mins and let the engine warm up a little. Then you can check it. However, in modern cars, the electronics check the engine oil for you. Also, most modern cars use synthetic oil which has a wider range of operating temperature and is not dependent on the temperature too much.
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To check the engine oil, make sure that the engine is not too hot after a long drive. The car must be switched off. You can open the hood of the car and look for a bright yellow, red or orange cap near the engine bay. Before that, you can refer to the users’ manual to know the exact colour and location of the dipstick. You have to pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean with a dry cloth. It must be completely dry before putting it back. The second time you take it out, the reading will be accurate. There are two holes at the one end of the dipstick. Those mark the highest and lowest level of the engine oil. Typically, the engine oil should not be more than the maximum limit and less than the minimum limit. If it is so, you must immediately replace it. Anything in between is where it should be. That is how you check the engine oil in your car to ensure that the components function most efficiently.
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