Engine Oil: An Ounce of Prevention
Michael J. Nappi
Your vehicle’s engine oil is a critical component that works continuously with every start of your of your gasoline powered car or truck. This usually unseen guardian flows among and between constantly moving, critical internal engine parts where metal meets metal. Oil not only reduces the friction enabling these parts to move easier, it also reduces engine wear. Operating you vehicle without proper lubrication will leave you on the side of the road and facing costly repairs.
These days, many owners rely on maintenance mechanics at car dealerships, oil change “specialist” franchises or local repair shops to check and change their car’s engine oil. As a man with over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry as a mechanic, manager and shop owner, I have witnessed even some of the best mechanics make mistakes. So as they say: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
I myself recently had an oil change done at a national known auto center and when it was done, I asked the mechanic to show me the oil level on the dipstick. He was annoyed when I asked and insisted, but became apologetic when to his surprise my engine was a full quart low. He blamed the system that is supposed to automatically pump and dispense the correct amount of oil from the 55 gallon barrel of bulk oil. I blamed him for not taking the time to simply check my vehicle’s dipstick when he finished.
I grew up in the 1970’s and 80’s when most teen boys were busy tinkering with their own cars because we couldn’t afford to buy new and the older cars were just cooler. My own background makes it difficult for me to believe that today, many men and women can’t locate their car’s dipstick, or know how to read it. But not long ago my niece was stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. She had to call a tow truck because the two “men” with her had no idea how to change a flat tire! So I have learned such people do exist, and this was written for you.
The dipstick is a device inside your gasoline or diesel powered or hybrid engine. Typically they consist of a thin, flat and somewhat flexible metal strip/stick that has a handle on the top end.
The handles are usually found somewhere near the top of the engine and often not hard to find. Some cars also have dipsticks for their automatic transmission fluid so make sure you know which you have. Look for a label noting which fluid this stick serves on or near the handle. If you are unsure or can’t find yours just ask Google where it is on your make and model vehicle. Near the bottom of the dipstick are lines marking where the oil level should reach when the oil is full, and a second line indicating where it is if you are a quart low. This thin metal strip slides into a port or tube that guides the dipstick into the oil pan.
The oil pan is on the lower part of the engine and serves as the reservoir for the engine oil. When the engine is running, the oil circulates from the oil pan, throughout the engine. When the engine is not running, all the oil returns to the oil pan. To check your oil level make sure the car is on level ground, in park or with the parking brake on. Make sure the engine has had time to cool off since it was last running. And make sure the engine is NOT running when you check the level.
Even if you always have your car service by a professional, I recommend learning how to check the level or at the very least to understand how to read your dipstick. There are many fine and competent mechanics out there, and there are many incompetent and lazy ones too. Even the best mechanic can have a bad day. As I said before: “An ounce of prevention…”
Michael J. Nappi
Your vehicle’s engine oil is a critical component that works continuously with every start of your of your gasoline powered car or truck. This usually unseen guardian flows among and between constantly moving, critical internal engine parts where metal meets metal. Oil not only reduces the friction enabling these parts to move easier, it also reduces engine wear. Operating you vehicle without proper lubrication will leave you on the side of the road and facing costly repairs.
These days, many owners rely on maintenance mechanics at car dealerships, oil change “specialist” franchises or local repair shops to check and change their car’s engine oil. As a man with over 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry as a mechanic, manager and shop owner, I have witnessed even some of the best mechanics make mistakes. So as they say: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
I myself recently had an oil change done at a national known auto center and when it was done, I asked the mechanic to show me the oil level on the dipstick. He was annoyed when I asked and insisted, but became apologetic when to his surprise my engine was a full quart low. He blamed the system that is supposed to automatically pump and dispense the correct amount of oil from the 55 gallon barrel of bulk oil. I blamed him for not taking the time to simply check my vehicle’s dipstick when he finished.
I grew up in the 1970’s and 80’s when most teen boys were busy tinkering with their own cars because we couldn’t afford to buy new and the older cars were just cooler. My own background makes it difficult for me to believe that today, many men and women can’t locate their car’s dipstick, or know how to read it. But not long ago my niece was stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. She had to call a tow truck because the two “men” with her had no idea how to change a flat tire! So I have learned such people do exist, and this was written for you.
The dipstick is a device inside your gasoline or diesel powered or hybrid engine. Typically they consist of a thin, flat and somewhat flexible metal strip/stick that has a handle on the top end.
The handles are usually found somewhere near the top of the engine and often not hard to find. Some cars also have dipsticks for their automatic transmission fluid so make sure you know which you have. Look for a label noting which fluid this stick serves on or near the handle. If you are unsure or can’t find yours just ask Google where it is on your make and model vehicle. Near the bottom of the dipstick are lines marking where the oil level should reach when the oil is full, and a second line indicating where it is if you are a quart low. This thin metal strip slides into a port or tube that guides the dipstick into the oil pan.
The oil pan is on the lower part of the engine and serves as the reservoir for the engine oil. When the engine is running, the oil circulates from the oil pan, throughout the engine. When the engine is not running, all the oil returns to the oil pan. To check your oil level make sure the car is on level ground, in park or with the parking brake on. Make sure the engine has had time to cool off since it was last running. And make sure the engine is NOT running when you check the level.
Even if you always have your car service by a professional, I recommend learning how to check the level or at the very least to understand how to read your dipstick. There are many fine and competent mechanics out there, and there are many incompetent and lazy ones too. Even the best mechanic can have a bad day. As I said before: “An ounce of prevention…”