How to Check the Condition of Car Lubricating Oil
To ensure that your car is always in optimal condition, lubrication plays an important role. The process must always run well. This can be confirmed in various ways. One of them is by keeping car lubricants in their best condition.
In the lubrication process, the car uses oil. This can be found in several parts of the car such as the combustion chamber, transmission and power steering.
All of these parts have a crucial function and role in supporting vehicle performance. Therefore, lubrication there must always be optimal.
However, with use, the lubricating oil will often decrease or run out. Apart from that, the condition has deteriorated so that lubrication does not work well.
Therefore, it is very important to know the condition. Want to know how? Here's a practical way to check the condition of your car's lubricating oil.
Engine Lubricating Oil
The engine part is one of the areas where the condition of the lubricating oil needs to be checked. Do the check when the car engine is cold. Look at the engine oil check area by opening the front hood.
After finding the area, first look for the oil gauge or dipstick. Usually it is provided at the top of the hood. Once found, clean it first with a clean cloth.
To check the engine oil, insert the oil dipstick into the inspection area. First look at the oil mark on the oil dipstick. This aims to see whether the lubricant volume is sufficient or not.
The oil mark should be between the two lines drawn on the oil dipstick. This indicates that the amount of oil is sufficient. However, if it is below it, it means the oil volume has decreased, so it needs to be replaced with new oil.
However, when it turns out that the amount of oil is still sufficient, there are still other checks that need to be carried out. The quality of the oil also needs to be checked. The way to do this is by looking at the color of the oil on the oil dipstick.
The oil should be greenish yellow in color. However, if the color is darker and looks dirty, it is very likely that the quality of the engine oil has decreased.
The engine oil must be changed immediately if it has reached its expiration date. However, if the oil condition worsens before the lubricant change period, there could be other problems with the car's engine. It is better to check the condition of the car.
Power Steering Lube Oil
Power steering is a car component that makes steering control feel light. Therefore, its performance must always be optimal so that car control remains easy.
The condition of the power steering lubricating oil really needs to be checked. This must be done especially when you feel the steering wheel feels heavy when turned.
Check by looking at its presence under the front hood of the car. Usually there is a tube with power steering written on it.
Pay attention to the condition first. Pay attention to whether there is visible seepage or not. If you find seepage, it is recommended to immediately replace the power steering oil tube cap with a new one.
Also open the power steering oil tube cover. Look at the oil volume there. Ideally the oil should be in the middle of the minimum and maximum sizes in the canister.
If it's not enough, add oil. However, it is recommended not to overdo it because power steering oil can expand when it gets hot. So, if you overdo it, it can actually cause problems.
If the volume is sufficient, also check the quality. Use a clean dipstick. Dip it and check the condition of the oil. The color of good power steering oil is clear orange or pink.
However, if the oil is black and dark, it could be that the quality has decreased. Most often the cause is problems with the rubber and rings in the power steering. If you experience this, it is recommended to drain the oil and check the entire power steering device to anticipate any damage to it.
Transmission Lube Oil
The condition of the car's transmission oil also needs to be checked. This should actually be done when you feel that shifting gears feels uncomfortable. The indicator can be seen from the reaction of the car's transmission.
In an automatic car the gear shift from N to D or R should only take under five seconds. After being moved, the car immediately moves within that time. If it takes more than five seconds, the transmission oil must be checked.
Similar things exist in manual cars. Gear shifts should be smooth and the car should move immediately after shifting gears. If not, it is very important to check the condition of the transmission oil.
The method for checking transmission oil is similar to checking engine oil. See when the car is stationary or dead. Locate the transmission fluid tube then use the oil dipstick to check.
The first thing to check is the volume. The oil should be at least between the minimum and maximum limits on the dipstick. If it is at the minimum limit or even below it, you should immediately change the oil.
However, if the amount of transmission oil is still adequate, now look at the quality. The condition of the transmission oil can be detected by its color. Good oil should be clear red in color. But, if it looks black or dirty, it's best to replace it.
These are easy tips for checking the condition of the lubricating oil in a number of car components. Practice so that the car is always in the best condition.