The engine oil is one of the most important fluids in the vehicle system and plays a crucial role in the proper operation of the engine. Careful monitoring of its quantity, consistency and quality is inevitable part of the maintenance of each vehicle. As all car owners know, a well-maintained lubrication system ensures a longer and hassle-free engine life.
The engine oil minimizes the effects of friction between components such as pistons, valves, cranks and others, thus preventing unwelcome wear on one side. On the other hand, it lowers the high temperature in the engine system, caused by friction. 
That’s why mechanics always say that it is very important to check the level and consistency of the oil. A sudden fall below the permitted limits can lead to extreme wear and overheating of internal components, which can result in very expensive repairs or, worse, damage that is not able to be repaired. If we notice sudden changes in their appearance (color, texture) and smell (you can’t skip the distinctive smell of something burned), then it’s time to see what’s under the hood. Most drivers wait for the dashboard light to arrive to indicate the need for action. In most cases, when this happens, it is time for a specialist to search for the car.
So, how to check the level of the engine oil?
This is probably the first thing that young drivers are thought to.It all starts with parking the vehicle on a flat surface. The engine should always be cold (wait at least 20 minutes) – trying to do it in a still hot engine is dangerous and useless. After the car cools down, you can continue with the check. The oil dipstick will help us measure the level of the oil, but it must be thoroughly cleaned before the procedure. Dip the stick in the oil box, the liquid sticks to it. As you may have noticed, the dipstick is divided into two, by two distinctive lines. The best scenario is when the oil is between the two lines. When the oil mark is below the bottom or upper line, then we may have a situation.
A sign below the bottom line means that the engine sucks too much air, which means it works without enough lubricant. This would eventually lead to overheating and damage. In this case, you need to add enough oil, to restore the balance of the liquid.
Too much oil is not a good thing. When the oil mark is above the top line it can endanger the rubber seals of the components.
Different engines need different amounts of oil. The safest way to know your needs is to read the owner’s manual. And yet, sometimes even the manufacturer’s data can’t give us the answer we need. That’s why from time to time, we need to check if an extra portion of oil is needed. But it all depends on the way we drive and the condition of the vehicle. As a rule, older tend to use more oil for the engine.
Discussion about this post