Checking Your Oil

One of the most, if not the most, important thing you can do to make your car engine last is to conduct proper oil maintenance. If your vehicle's oil warning light ever alerts you, it’s crucial that you have it checked out immediately before it causes a detrimental problem to your car’s engine. Your oil light may refer to low oil levels, oil filter blockage, or oil pump failure - all of which can have devastating effects on your vehicle.

If you’re the type of person that enjoys doing some car maintenance yourself and saving some money, there are a few things you can do simply to make sure your car's oil is in good condition. First, you can occasionally check your oil level. This is really simple, but it’s important that you follow the correct steps.

Step 1: Make sure you’re vehicle is parked on level ground.

Step 2: Locate and remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a rag before reinserting it all the way in.

Step 3: Pull out the dipstick again and evaluate. Typically your dipstick will have two indicators, high (H) and low (L) - your oil levels should always fall in between these marks.

If your oil levels are properly maintained, you’re in good shape, but there are a couple more factors to check, like the oil color. Oil isn’t black, it’s typically an amber color. Black oil can indicate that your oil is contaminated. If your oil is contaminated, you will need an oil change.