How to Know When a Car is Low on Engine Oil?
2 Answers
To check if a car is low on engine oil, inspect the oil dipstick. Below is an introduction about engine oil: 1. Overview: Engine oil, also known as motor oil or engine lubricant, is a substance enhanced with additives in base oil. 2. Composition: It mainly contains anti-wear additives, detergents, dispersants, and multi-grade viscosity index improvers. Engine oil is used for lubricating internal combustion engines. 3. Functions: The primary functions of engine oil are to reduce friction and wear on moving parts, remove sludge (one function of dispersants) and varnish (function of detergents) from the engine. It also neutralizes acids produced from fuel combustion and lubricant oxidation (function of detergents), improves piston ring sealing, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from moving components.
I've been driving for many years and know that insufficient engine oil is a big issue. The most straightforward method is to regularly check the dipstick. After parking the car on level ground and turning off the engine, wait until it's cold, then pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it, and pull it out again to see if the oil level is between the minimum and maximum marks. If it's below the minimum mark, the oil is definitely insufficient. There's also an oil pressure light on the dashboard; if this small oil can icon lights up, stop the car immediately and check—don't keep driving. Additionally, if you notice the engine noise getting louder, vibrations becoming more noticeable, or a lack of power and increased fuel consumption while driving, these could also be signs of low oil. Remember to check it at least once a month—don't be lazy—to avoid expensive engine repairs.
