If you've never checked on your car's fluids, this may seem like an impossible task. It's actually a very easy thing to do. To help you master this, use these tips to check your car's fluids.
How to Check on Your Car's Fluids
Checking on your car's fluids is a must if you want to ensure your car stays in great shape. If you're not sure how to do this, don't let this simple task intimidate you. Get to know how to check on some of your car's most vital fluids with these tips from Synthetic Oil Inc.
How to Check Your Motor Oil
Your car relies pretty heavily on its motor oil to keep it going. In fact, your motor oil is what keeps your engine functioning properly. Without it, you would have some pretty serious engine troubles. In order to keep things working well, checking on your motor oil periodically is a must. You may feel like you need a professional to do this for you, but the truth is you can easily do it yourself.
Before you even pop open your hood, check that your car is parked on an even surface and that there is no incline since this can affect your oil reading. Once you're certain you're parked on an even surface, open your hood and locate the oil dipstick. Pull this out, clean it off with a clean washcloth, and put it back in its place. Pull out the dipstick once more and take a look at the oil at the end of it. Your dipstick will have two indicator lines on it and your oil level should fall somewhere in between these two lines. If your oil falls below the bottom indicator line, then you're running low on oil. You can simply top off your oil with the same type of oil that is already in your engine. However, if you notice that your oil is constantly low, you may have a leak or another issue that will need professional help.
Next up is checking the condition of your oil. This is also quite easy, so don't panic. Simply use your thumb and index finger to rub some oil off of the dipstick. Look at it closely and feel its texture to determine whether or not your car needs an oil change. If your oil is a light color, translucent, and slick, it's still good and able to do its job. If your oil is thick, opaque, dark, gritty, and smells burned, it's definitely time to get rid of it and replace it with new oil.
When your car is ready for an oil change, be sure to make it a synthetic oil change in San Diego. Look for an oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to ensure your engine is well-protected and works more efficiently. To find even more great synthetic oil options, contact the friendly oil pros at Synthetic Oil Incat (800) 653-0323. Don't forget that you can also browse their full range of products in their online shop.
How to Check Your Coolant
If you're not familiar with your car's coolant, it basically does what its name indicates: it keeps things cool. When you turn your engine on and the parts under the hood get to work, temperatures can rise quite quickly. This is where your coolant steps in to ensure things don't' get too hot, helping prevent engine damage. Checking on this fluid is also very easy, so you can definitely do it yourself.
First, be sure your engine and all the parts under your hood are completely cool. Don't try to do this right after a long drive since your coolant will still be hot and can actually burn you if you're not careful. Once you're sure things are completely cool, go ahead and pop open your hood and look for the coolant reservoir. This will usually be a semi-translucent plastic container with a couple of indicator marks on its side. This makes it easy to check on your coolant level at a glance. If you can't quite see through the container, you can open it up to check how much coolant is left inside. If it's lower than recommended, top it off using the same coolant mix.
Checking on the condition of your coolant is also a must since you want to be sure it's still able to perform its job properly. To do this, take a look at the color of your coolant. This should still hold on to the color of the coolant you use. Coolant is usually a bright yellow, green, or even blue shade, so if the coolant in the reservoir is looking discolored or rusty, a flush and new coolant is definitely a good idea.
Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in San Diego, CA
If your car is in need of an oil change, be sure to give it a synthetic oil change in San Diego. For help finding the right products for your oil change, contact the friendly oil pros at Synthetic Oil Inc. To learn more about their products or to place and order, give them a callat (800) 653-0323.