Top Auto Part

Driving safely isn’t the only thing teenagers need to learn when you are first being trained to drive. Knowing how to take care of your car is equally important. Not only will it extend the life of the car and avoid trips to your dealer for servicing, but it teaches responsibility and will give you a sense of independence, knowing you don’t have to rely on someone else to take care of your car. Learned early, these are skills that will last you a lifetime.

Checking your oil – One of the first things to learn is how to check your oil. Checking your oil is one of the most important things you can do to keep your engine running smoothly. When you run low on oil, your engine is put under stress and can become damaged. First, make sure your car is parked on a level surface, and that the engine is cold. Release the hood. Near the center of the engine, you’ll find the dipstick. This is a long piece of metal with a loop on the end. Pull on the loop to draw out the dipstick. Using a paper towel or rag, wipe off the oil. Replace the dipstick, pushing it all the way in, and then pull it back out again. On the dipstick you should see two cross hatch lines toward the pointy end of the stick. If the oil comes up between those two lines, you have enough oil. If the oil does not reach the bottom line, add a small amount of oil and check your oil again, until the oil level is between the two lines. Read the rest of this entry »