|
|
|
| See Homepage. | This page: How to check your engine oil level |
Engine oil level.How to check your engine's lubricant.Please note: All advice on Old Classic Car is just that, advice. If you have any doubts about your own abilities when it comes to working on your car, I'd recommend getting hands-on advice & help from someone who is used to working on old cars. I can't accept any responsibility for mistakes you make, or things being damaged as a result of your working on a car after having read articles on this site. If in doubt, check with a marque expert first. You can find contacts for owners clubs in the club directory (see homepage).Checking the level of oil in your car's engine is a simple and quick task, but as with most things, one that can be done incorrectly unless a few basic steps are followed. Make sure the car is parked on level ground, with the engine switched off. If the engine has been running recently, allow it to rest for a few minutes before checking the oil. I'd recommend wearing disposable gloves when working under the bonnet of your car, as old engine oil can be carcinogenic if allowed to deteriorate. Find, and remove, the dipstick from the engine. It is usually mounted on the side of the engine block, and is often (but not always!) fairly easy to get at. If there is any old crud and grime around the dipstick hole, it is best to wipe it away with an old rag before removing the dipstick for the first time, to lessen the risk of dirt entering the engine. Give the dipstick a quick wipe with an old, lint-free, clean rag, and place it back in the dipstick hole. Withdraw it once more, and take a look at the level. The markings on the dipstick vary a bit between different makes of car, but generally there are two marks - Full and Empty. You want the level to be as close as possible to Full, without going over by a great margin. If the level is below the Full level, you'll need to top it up using the correct grade of oil (check your handbook). The oil filler is usually on the top of the engine, although some older designs have an oil filler attached to the side of the block. Again making sure no crud can fall down into the engine by wiping this area first, remove the filler cap, and begin to pour in fresh oil, to top up the level. It is better to add a little at a time, re-checking the level on the dipstick often, rather than pouring too much in in one go, and risking an over-fill. Check the level on the dipstick after letting each pouring of fresh oil to settle in the sump, wiping the dipstick before taking each reading. Repeat, until the indicated level is satisfactory. Replace the dipstick, ensuring that it is fully 'home', and refit the filler cap securely. Wipe away any fresh oil that may have spilt on the engine. It is a good idea to start the engine, and let it run for a few seconds, just to get all the oil circulating fully (including that in the oil filter). Switch the engine off, let it rest for a minute or so, and do a final check of the level as described above. If you have overfilled the engine by a significant margin, your best bet is to drain some away using the sump drain plug (check your handbook for details) and start the topping up procedure again. Running an engine with very little oil in it, or even too much, can cause major damage to it in a very short time, so keeping an eye on the lubricant level is essential. Draw up a regular list of things to check on the car, and make sure checking the lube level is on there. If you're not sure what you're doing, seek advice from a competent mechanic before delving under the bonnet of your car. Before doing any work on your car, I also recommend that you have a look at the factory issued manual or handbook for your car, in case there are any peculiarities specific to your car that need to be taken into account when working on it. Go back to the looking after your car section of oldclassiccar.co.uk |
|
Custom Search
|
 |
| Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere. |
| Website by ableweb. |
| Privacy Policy, Cookies & Disclaimers |
