Car Articles

Everyone tells about checking engine oil regularly, but we will tell you how to actually check the level. Drive your car for about 15 minutes to warm the oil, and then park the car in a level place. Turn off the engine and let wait for about 15-20 minutes so as to let the oil in the engine drain back to the oil pan. Remove the dipstick and use a paper towel or a rag to wipe it clean. Now, insert the dipstick again and push it all the way to the end. Pull it back and check the oil level. It should be somewhere between the hash marks on the dipstick.

Now, if necessary, you can add the type and amount of oil as recommended in your owner's manual.

It is no secret that frequent oil changes will keep your car engine running nice and smooth. Though the car manufacturers these days recommend increasing long intervals between oil changes, it is wise to change the oil frequently. Frequent change of oil would flush out abrasive dirt and metal particles out of the engine, thus extending its life. To give your engine a long life, follow the manufacturer recommended intervals religiously, especially if you drive in a stop-and-go city traffic.

Take the risk of overfilling your engine crankcase with oil at your own risk. A overfill will cause the oil to rise into the crankshaft, where air bubbles will get churned into the oil. The oil pump in the car cannot do a good job circulating oil when it has to battle with air bubbles. It can result in overheating and stressed out engine components. Additionally, an oil overfill can also conk your sparkplugs.

In case you change the oil yourself, clean the drain plug and washer with a cloth before reinstalling the oil pan. And if you take the help of a mechanic to change the oil, ask him to do it. Some plugs, however, are magnetized so as trap metal particles.

There are several filters, such as oil, fuel, transmission, and air, which are important for the preservation of the engine. Here is how you can take care of them.

Change the oil filter at every time you change the oil. If you change the oil yourself, use an anti-seize lubricant to wipe the filter threads to avoid corrosion.

Maintain a gap of two months to check the air filter. Air filters are usually easier to take care of than oil filter. The air filter is located under the big metal lid in a carbureted engine or in a rectangular box in a fuel injected engine. You can take help of your owner's manual to find the exact position. You can enhance the life of air filters by cleaning them with compressed air.

Some of the car manufacturers claim that the new fuel filters don't need changing at all. But it is better to have it checked at least once a year. A clog in the fuel filter can cause poor engine performance.

Transmission fluid filter needs to be changed after the first of driving, and every 40,000 km or two years there on.

The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) is an emission control device on cars and recirculates partially burnt gases from the engine's crankcase to the combustion chamber. It is important to change it 48,000 km or as mentioned in the owner's manual. It also helps to prevent a pile up of harmful sludge and corrosion. While changing the PCV valve, make sure to replace it with the correct one or it can prove damaging for the engine.