Checking the Oil

The secret to keeping your car in good running condition is by making sure your engine is full of clean oil. Don't wait until you see the red oil pressure light on your dashboard. By that time, you may have already done serious -- and expensive -- damage to your engine. You can avoid all this by making it a habit to check your oil when you get gas. Also check your oil when you set out on a big trip. By checking the oil frequently, you can get good at estimating how long it takes for your engine to start running low on oil.

In general, oil should be changed every 3,000 miles. Older cars tend to burn oil faster than newer cars, and therefore should be checked more rigorously. Keep a record handy of when your oil was last changed.

Here's how to check the oil yourself:

1. Park on level ground and shut off the engine.
2. Open the hood, locate the engine, and find the metal loop sticking out of it at the end of a metal stalk. That's the end of your dipstick. If you can't find it, your owner's manual should help.
3. With a rag or thick paper towel in one hand, pull on the metal loop and remove the dipstick with the other. Wipe the straight end of the dipstick, and push it back into the stalk you pulled it out of.
4. Wait a few seconds, and pull out the dipstick again.
5. Look at the end of the dipstick, and notice where the oil ends. There are markings that indicate the parameters of where the oil should reach. If the oil doesn't reach inside the markings, you need to add at least a quart of oil. It's also a good idea to look carefully at the oil on the dipstick. If it is grainy or has little nuggets or dirt in it, it's time for an oil change. The oil should look smooth.
6. To add oil, make sure the engine is off. Find the oil cap on the top of the engine and unscrew it. Pour the oil into the hole. A funnel might help, but don't worry if you spill a bit of it on the engine.
7. Replace the oil cap and recheck the oil level like you did before.