How do I check the condition of my oil?
Sadly simply looking at the oil or rubbing it between your fingers won’t tell you everything that is going on inside your engine. There are several symptoms that may indicate a problem with your oil including: low oil pressure, engine overheating, or difficulty starting in cold weather.
You can check the oil yourself by looking at the oil on your dipstick this check may help identify excessive oil thickening or water contamination, to check your oil level please follow the below procedure:
- Park your vehicle on a level surface. Parking on an incline will give you an inaccurate reading of your oil level when you remove the dipstick.
- Wait until the engine is cold (oil expands when it is hot).
- Pull out the dipstick, wipe it with a paper towel or rag, and reinsert it all the way back until it is fully back in place, then remove the dipstick again, hold it horizontally, and read the oil level on the dipstick (every dipstick has a safe oil level indicator).
- How does the oil look? Before you reinsert the dipstick, check the oil consistency. If your dipstick has a white, milky discoloration, this means excessive moisture has entered your motor oil. In this case, book your vehicle in for an oil change as soon as possible.
- If the level of oil on your dipstick is low add oil as necessary by unscrewing the oil filler cap, which is about 3 inches in diameter and located on the very top of the engine.
- Recheck the oil level with your dipstick to make sure you’ve added enough oil.
- Screw the oil filler cap back on ensuring that it is secured tightly.
- Get an oil change. If your oil level is low, how long has it been since your last oil change? It may be time to schedule one with a specialist garage such as A1 Clutches.
How does oil affect mpg?
It’s a matter of thickness. The thicker the oil, the more energy (fuel burned) needed to pump it. More energy usage equals less fuel efficiency. That’s why newer vehicles are designed to operate on lower viscosity oils. The lighter the oil, the less energy required to pump it.
Caution: Always make sure you are using the right oil for your vehicle so your engine doesn’t have to work harder than it needs to, resulting in sluggish performance.
What’s an oil life system indicator light?
Many vehicles are now equipped with high tech ways to constantly monitor your driving conditions and mileage to determine the life expectancy of your oil. When the Oil Life System light appears, your computer system has determined you’ve reached the life expectancy for your current oil. Don’t doubt your oil life system indicator. It’s very reliable, accurate and always looking out for your engine’s best interests.
What happens after you reset the oil light?
After an oil change, a specialist garage such as A1 Clutches will reset your oil light. Your car computer will then restart the process of counting the miles travelled since your most recent oil change. Your vehicles computer is extremely accurate, so don’t second guess or disregard the information it provides.
Please Note: This type of system is not fitted to all vehicles. Check your owner’s manual to see if it is fitted to your vehicle and details of how the system functions in your vehicle.
How do I dispose my oil?
The only proper way to dispose of oil is to take it to a facility that accepts used oil for proper disposal or recycling A1 Clutches make this easy as every time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change, we’ll make sure your old oil is disposed of properly.
What is engine sludge?
Engine sludge is as unpleasant as it sounds, sludge is old and congealed oil resulting from excessive contamination, heat and oil additive breakdown. Sludge typically forms over a long period of time and generally builds up when a vehicle owner misses scheduled oil changes or travels many miles past the recommended oil change interval.
How does engine sludge form?
One day your oil is shiny and slick but, over time, the lubricant can become gunky and provide less effective protection for your engine parts. This is an extreme condition, but what could turn such a vital liquid into a gunky, engine clogging mess, you ask? Here are a couple possibilities.
Delaying your oil change is the main culprit. Over time, motor oil becomes contaminated with engine metals, acids and air humidity, eventually transforming into sludge. Waiting too long to change your oil will increase the likelihood of sludge infecting all the parts where motor oil travels, therefore regular oil changes are a must.
Prolonged stress and under-bonnet heat can lead to sludge filled consequences for your engine oil. Humidity plays a big role in oil consistency. The more humidity that enters your oil system, the sludgier and harder the oil gets. Relieve some stress by changing your oil regularly before it wears out.
Sludge is no laughing matter. Allowing it to build up could mean problems for your engine.
Follow your vehicle’s manufacturers recommended oil change intervals.