How to Inspect Your Oil

Think of motor oil as the life’s blood of your car’s engine. Checking it on a regular basis is a key part of keeping your engine running well and getting the most miles out of it. The oil lubricates the engine’s internal moving parts, keeping them from wearing too quickly. It also helps keep the engine clean, by preventing dirt buildup, and helps keep it from overheating. Checking the oil level is a quick, easy job that we recommend you do at every other gas fill-up.

Step 1: Make sure the engine is cool. Never check the oil while the engine is hot. It’s best to check the oil after the engine hasn’t run in a few hours, as this allows the oil to settle back to the oil pan. If this isn’t an option, let the car cool down for at least 10 minutes. Check the oil when the car is parked on a flat surface so the oil is evenly distributed in the pan.

Step 2: Open the hood and prop it up so you can easily access the engine.

Step 3: Locate the oil dipstick. On most cars the dipstick has a yellow handle. It may be located at the front or near the center of the engine.

Step 4: Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean towel.

Step 5: Re-insert the dipstick, then pull it out once again.

Step 6: Examine the oil level. There should be two marks on the dipstick indicating “add” and “full” levels. The oil you see should fall between these marks. If the oil is close to or lower than the “add” mark, the engine needs more oil.

Step 7: Examine the color of the oil. Rub the oil on the dipstick between your fingers and look at the color. It should appear black or brown. If it’s a lighter or milky color, this could indicate a coolant leak which should be repaired. If you feel any grittiness in the oil, it could indicate engine damage, in which case a mechanic should inspect the engine as soon as possible.

About Spirit West Motor Carriage

Spirit West Motor Carriage Auto Body Repair is a family-owned and operated company founded in April 1977. We take great pride in teamwork and our commitment to making sure our team receives training on the latest innovative state-of-the-art equipment and collision repair techniques.

We are proud to say our team is family and we treat our customers like family, too. Be assured that your car will receive this treatment, and upon completion of the repairs, you will drive away safe and satisfied!

Give us a call today or stop by the shop to see how we can get your car back into shape and back on the road. Spirit West Motor Carriage 610 Park Lane Manchester, MO 63021 Mon-Fri 7:30am – 5:30pm, (636) 394-1712