by Mobile Mechanixx

Created on: March 09, 2007   Last Updated: April 10, 2007

Oil is as vital to a car as blood is to the human body. The oil in a car serves two purposes. The first is to serve as a lubricant that protects internal engine parts from friction, and the second is as a detergent, to remove carbon( a byproduct of burning gasoline), which also increases friction. Friction is the greatest cause of wear in the internal engine components. Thus, maintaining a proper oil level, in addition to regular oil changes, is the best way to prolong the life of the engine.

In a new, or newer, vehicle, checking the oil at each fill-up should be sufficient. In an older vehicle, the same standard may apply, but only if oil loss is not noticed. A good engine should not use any oil at all. However, older, but still perfectly serviceable engines, may indeed burn a small amount of oil.

Oil leaks are also a common reason for oil loss. If you notice at fill-up time that you seem to be low on oil, it would probably be a good idea to check the oil every day or two, at least until the cause for loss can be determined. If it appears that oil loss is due to burning inside the engine, the rate of consumption can be determined by checking the oil level every hundred miles, allowing you to determine how much oil you are burning, and then knowing how often to check. Major leaks that demand a quart of oil every hundred miles or so should be fixed as soon as possible.

When checking the dipstick, oil showing just at the minimum mark generally indicates that the oil is about one quart low. This does not mean to dump in a quart and go. You should add oil slowly, so as not to overfill. It is much easier to add small amounts of oil than it is to remove small amounts.

The reason to not overfill the oil is simple. Oil pools in the bottom of the engine, below the cylinders. The oil pump moves oil through channels to the top of the engine, where it then drains through other channels back to the bottom of the engine, all the while avoiding getting inside the cylinder bore. When overfilled, it can slosh into the cylinder bore, and be burned with the gasoline. Excessive oil burning can ruin the catalytic converter. That is not a cheap repair bill!

Always keep in mind that although the oil level, and regular oil changes are the most important maintenance you can perform, they are not the only things! Follow the owners manual recommendations for all maintenance. Some items may be okay if you put them off for a short time, but should be done as closely as possible to the manufacturers recommendations.

Learn more about this author, Mobile Mechanixx.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.