How to check engine oil

engine oil.
We believe that this is a major function of a car owner and should not be delegated to a mechanic or fuel attendant.

It is important to know where the dipstick is located and what it looks like and where you pour the oil into the engine.
Most and if not all manufacturers will emphasise the need for checking oil and will show you how to do it.
You must check your engine oil level on the dipstick regularly, we suggest you do this every morning before you start your car. You should also check the water level in your radiator and the acid level in the battery.

Operating a car without engine oil results in it overheating because oil is the most important aspect of lubricating all moving parts hence there is need to ensure that there is adequate supply of oil in the car.

We believe the car cannot operate for 60 seconds without oil, as this will cause serious damage to the engine. It is possible that there could be a leak in your engine causing a lot of topping up and in this case there is need to fit new gaskets or seals to avoid the leaks.
The other aspects to look out for when the engine is burning oil excessively are seals and valve guides, which get worn out overtime and in some instances this is caused by worn out rings and cylinders.

We recommend that you change oil periodically and more importantly as per your manufacturer’s handbook.
For older cars that usually use SAE40 monograde we suggest that you change oil after 5 000 kilometres but if you constantly drive your vehicle for short distances, in cold conditions, and on dusty roads oil change should be at about 2500 kilometres.

Equally important is the need for you to change the oil filter as well during an oil change.
If you do not do that you will notice that even if you have put in new oil it will be contaminated by the dirty particles that are in the old filter. At the same time make it a habit of checking leaks on the engine especially oil leaks this is to ensure that you have fitted the oil filter correctly.

One of our readers asked when about the conditions that are conducive for checking the engine oil level.
If you have been travelling we suggest that you stop the engine and let it cool off for about 30 minutes as to allow the oil to settle down in the sump.
If you check the oil level straight after a journey you are likely to get a wrong measure of the level as most of the oil will still be circulating in the engine. Below are steps to do the oil check:

Park the vehicle on a flat or even surface and ensure your handbrake is on, the engine should be switched off for at least 30 minutes to allow oil to settle down in the sump or crank-case oil pan.

Look for the dipstick and remove it and wipe it with a clean cloth and check the markings on the dipstip such as “full” or “low” or “add”. Do not add oil when the mark reads full but do it when it is reading low.

At all times do not fill oil above the full mark as this has a tendency of casing damage to the spark plugs: If you do this very often you will be able to notice your oil consumption on a regular basis.
Things that you should look for include black oil that signifies that your oil is due for an oil change and if it is dark brown its fine.
If oil is still dark brown it shows that the oil is performing as per specifications although this may also be an indication that it is about time for a change.

Should you however notice white matter on the dipstick this is indicative that coolant is mixing with water and normally this is a sign of a blown head gasket or a cracked block.
Generally observe that oil should not smell like fuel. It is important to dispose of the used oil as per the EMA regulations as this contains a lot of contaminates.
Studies have indicated that one litre of used oil can contaminate one million litre of good water hence the need to be very careful when handling this.