How to check and change your oil engine

[Val]

This is more one topic from VectraClub done by me and veeeeeery important to your cars!

THE ENGINE OIL!

Checking your car's oil level is the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your car's engine. In the time it takes to snap into a Slim-Jim, you can use a dipstick. Oil is the life blood of your car. Without it, you wouldn't make it three miles. Follow these quick steps and you'll have one biggie checked off your car's regular maintenance list.

A level between the two dipstick lines means you're level is a-ok.

First, make sure you park your car on level ground. You don't want all the oil sloshing to the back while you're checking the dipstick at the front. The dipstick is a long rod that goes deep into your engine to check the oil level. It's usually easy to get to, and should have an orange handle. Most also say OIL on them (or OEL if your car speaks German). Also be sure to park someplace well lit. The pump are of large fueling stations usually have enough light to keep a stadium lit. You don't want to spend 10 minutes stabbing your engine over and over with the dipstick because you can't find the hole, trust me. If it's possible to wait a few minutes for the oil to settle, do it. If you can't it's not a huge issue, you'll still get a fairly accurate reading. With the hood safely propped, pull the dipstick out and wipe the end clean with a towel or rag. Re-insert the dipstick into the engine, making sure it goes all the way in. Now pull it out, but don't turn it upside down to look at it, this makes the oil run upward and ruins your reading. The dipstick will have two marks at the bottom. They are usually either lines or holes in the stick. The oil level can be read by looking to see where the oily part ends and the dry part begins. If it's between the two marks, you're good to go. If it's below the bottom mark, you need to add a quart of oil. Never add more than a quart at once without driving and taking a new reading of the oil level. Overfilling the engine can be messy.

HOW TO



Adding Motor Oil

If you checked your motor oil and found the level to be low, you should add a quart. Motor oil is sold in quarts, so if you grab a plastic bottle at your local giganti-gas, you've got a quart. There are different types of motor oil, called "weights," so check your car's owner's manual to see what they recommend. If you can't find the manual or you're in a pinch, you can always add a quart of oil safely (they're labeled right on the front). If you're extra worried about cleanliness, buy a funnel, too, but it's not a must.

Unscrew the Oil Filler Cap

Motor oil inside.

With your hood safely propped open, look for a big screw cap right in the middle of the engine. It'll have a picture of what looks like a watering can on it, and some even say OIL. Again, you can consult the owner's manual on this.

Don't Forget the Cap!

Don't lose your oil cap.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unscrew the cap, and put it someplace safe, where you won't forget it! Believe me, leaving the cap off can be messy and even dangerous. My engine caught fire one time when I forgot to put the cap back on. I ran up and down the highway off-ramp like a chicken until somebody gave me a 2-liter bottle of Sprite. I'd hate to see you in the same place. If you can, put the cap over the hole in the hood latch so that you can't close the hood without putting the cap back on.

Pour Motor Oil Into the Engine

Motor oil poured carefully.

With the cap off, carefully and slowly pour your quart of motor oil into the engine. Don't worry if you spill a little, you won't do any damage but it might smoke and stink a little when you start the car. I like to wipe up any spills to keep the evergreen forest smell fresh inside my car. Put the cap back on the oil fill hole and you're done. You've just reduced the wear inside your engine by a lot!

Remember:

- Only add one quart at a time.
- Put the cap back on!

It's a good idea to check your oil again after doing some driving, just to be sure you're at the right level.

That's it people!
More one how to topic done by me here in the auto forum.
Any doubts, please ask.

*enjoy the car forum. You will need it one day.

[Samson The Cat]

so if you grab a plastic bottle at your local giganti-gas, you've got a quart.

Or ask for a 2l bottle at the car repair shop of your trust. It's much cheaper than at a gas station - just as buying a 5pack of Mars bars in the supermarket is cheaper than buying single bars at the gas station.

The oil level can be read by looking to see where the oily part ends and the dry part begins.

The end of the dipstcik of my old Vectra was made of plastic, not metal, so the oil was creeping upwards because of the surface tension. I could never read where how much oil was actually in, so used to fill up by instinct.

[Val]

Yeah, yeah ...
our Vectras has plastic in it like this one:



But it's the same thing.
The oil of your engine must be between the lower and upper marks. In this situation the level is ok.
I myself complete the level up to the upper mark. Not more than that, because could be dangerous as I told in the topic and NEVER let the level close to the lower mark.