Owning a car for the first time means staying on top of a lot of things. For one, you’ll need to know when it’s time to change the motor oil. Here are tips to set you straight on a few things:
Read your manual
While there are conflicting recommendations on when it’s best to have your motor oil changed—some say after 3,000 miles while others say have it changed after 3 months—depending on the make and model you drive, the one piece of advice that’s the same for all car buyers is this: check your manual. This should be enough to tell you when it’s time to head out to an auto shop to get in oil change in Southwest Arlington TX.
Check your oil
Say you lost your manual or can’t seem to find it at the moment. The next best thing you can do is to check your oil. Do this at least once a month. Before you check, make sure the car is parked on even ground, Consumer Reports says.
Know how
It’s easy enough to check your oil levels. Just take out your dipstick and then insert it into the tube. Remember to wipe any oil from the end before you do so. That way, you’ll prevent contaminants in the dipstick from transferring to the oil. Once that’s done, check oil levels. If it’s below the minimum mark, add oil.
Note the color
The oil must always appear brown or black. If this time, it appears light or it gives off a milky appearance, that could indicate a leak in your engine. Are there any metal particles in the oil? Bring your car to a competent mechanic to check for signs of engine damage. If the oil is already contaminated as well, then get an oil change in Southwest Arlington TX along with the repairs.