Oil status check
Hey there. We're going to teach you a thing or two today with a step-by-step guide on how to check your car oil levels and wield the legendary oil dipstick. Engine oil is what keeps your car's engine running smoothly. When your car runs, the moving parts rub against each other and create heat. Vehicle oil lubricates these parts and absorbs some of that heat. That's why it's so important to stay on top of your car maintenance and get regular oil changes.
How to Check Your Car's Oil Level
Newer Honda Civic models manufactured after are equipped with an engine oil life monitoring system. This system serves as a maintenance reminder and lets you know when to change your Civic's oil. After the oil is changed, the Civic's oil status indicator needs to be reset.
In most cases, your dealer will reset the indicator for you; however, you can reset it yourself at home without tools.
Insert your key into the ignition, and turn it to the "On" position but do not start the engine. Press the "SEL" button on the steering column control panel until the words "Oil Life" appear on the odometer. Press and hold the "SEL" button for approximately 10 seconds or until the "Oil Life" display begins to blink. Release the button when the display blinks. Press and hold the "SEL" button for five seconds until the display flashes and the "Oil Life" display resets to percent.
This article was written by the It Still Works team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about It Still Works, contact us. Step 1 Insert your key into the ignition, and turn it to the "On" position but do not start the engine. References techinfo. About the Author This article was written by the It Still Works team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information.
Insert the stick back into the pipe. Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of.
If you drive a car, you've probably heard this one piece of advice countless times: Make sure your vehicle gets regular oil changes to preserve the life of your engine. Regular changes are required because the oil that lubricates and helps to cool your engine has a limited useful life. If it becomes too contaminated with dirt and metal shavings, it'll wear down your vehicle's internal engine parts. Oil can also lose viscosity, or become too thin, with the unpleasant result that it can't properly keep your engine's parts from grinding against one another. But let's face it, changing your vehicle's oil is messy and inconvenient when you do it yourself.
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You'll see "Oil Life" with a percentage number on your dashboard. This is your Oil Life indicator, a convenient and important part of your Honda's maintenance reminder system.
How to Check Your Car's Engine Oil
Newer Honda Civic models manufactured after are equipped with an engine oil life monitoring system. This system serves as a maintenance reminder and lets you know when to change your Civic's oil. After the oil is changed, the Civic's oil status indicator needs to be reset. In most cases, your dealer will reset the indicator for you; however, you can reset it yourself at home without tools. Insert your key into the ignition, and turn it to the "On" position but do not start the engine.
Oil life monitors: Should you trust them?
Most models should have an oil change about every three months or three thousand miles. In between your regularly scheduled oil changes, you can check your engine oil levels to ensure that it has not become too low or dirty. Locate a lint free rag or a scrap of old fabric to use when checking your oil. An old t-shirt usually works great. It is best to check your oil while it is warm. A great time to check you oil is after a quick trip to a local market or around your neighborhood. Pull the handle located on the inside of your vehicle, usually on the side of the driver side door, and the press the lever located underneath the center of the hood. Make sure that the hood of your car is securely propped. Check this short video for a clue:. On most models, the dipstick is located on the left side of the engine.
On several occasions—most notably during the oil crises of —74 and —79 and during the first half of —the price of petroleum rose steeply. Because oil is such a crucial source of energy worldwide, such rapid rises in price spark recurrent debates about the accessibility of global supplies, the extent to which producers will be able to meet demand in the decades to come, and the potential for alternative sources of energy to mitigate concerns about energy supply and climate change issues related to the burning of fossil fuels.
Oil reduces the friction in your engine and keeps it running smoothly. The process for how to check your oil is simple and involves using the dip stick to see levels and test quality. To find out whether your vehicle needs oil, follow these steps:. Be sure the engine is cold or has been off for at least ten minutes before you check the oil.
