Can I add engine oil immediately after stopping the car?
2 Answers
You can add engine oil immediately after stopping the car. The functions of engine oil are: 1. Lubrication; 2. Auxiliary cooling; 3. Cleaning; 4. Reducing gas leakage and preventing external pollutants from entering; 5. Preventing contact between water, air, acidic substances, harmful gases and components; 6. Shock absorption; 7. Reducing wear caused by abrasive wear, surface fatigue, and adhesive wear. Engine oil is the lubricant used by the engine, composed of base oil and additives, known as the blood of the car. It mainly contains anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, and multi-grade oil viscosity index improvers.
The engine is still hot right after stopping the car, with oil temperature estimated at 80-90°C. It's too dangerous to open the oil filler cap directly at this point - hot oil could splash out and easily burn your hands. I almost had an accident once. Now I've learned my lesson: it's better to wait 5-10 minutes after turning off the engine for it to cool down before adding oil. This way, the oil's thermal expansion reduces, making the dipstick measurement more accurate to avoid overfilling or underfilling. Also, park on level ground for safety. The key is to check oil levels regularly - don't always wait until the last minute. Developing a good habit of checking every two weeks when the engine is cold makes maintenance much easier.
