Winter means a number of things for your car — and most of them are maintenance related, which is important to never lose sight of — even when the weather seems as if it can’t get much worse. The reason there are so many different things to think about boils down to one main fact; your car has a ton of important components! As oil is one of the top things to consider checking periodically, we’ve compiled a guide as to how to do so, and some warning signs to look out for.
Checking Your Oil Levels
It’s known that it’s very cold during these winter months, and most importantly, it’s your responsibility to look after the wellbeing of your engine. Run your engine for a few moments to let the oil get up to temperature, and shut the car off (you can also go for a short drive). Pull out the dipstick and inspect the oil line to see if it falls between the two dots. A regular oil level is great, whereas too little may indicate that you’re losing it somewhere.
Warning Signs
A warning sign during a winter oil change can be the presence of particles in the oil, mainly metal. After draining the oil during a routine change, make sure, if you own one, to run a magnet through the oil. This checks for any metal particles that may be floating in the oil, which can point to engine issues that need to be carefully addressed. In the winter, engines are colder, and the oil takes longer to heat up, so it’s important to make sure you use the right oil AND you’re checking/changing it as necessary.
Of course, if you don’t have the time to do this on your own and believe it’s time to inspect, make sure you arm yourself with a shop qualified to get the job done right the first time!
Southport Automotive is Fairfield County’s premier service station for all things Automotive. In business since 1981, we’ve helped get thousands of Connecticut residents back on the road faster, and for longer. To learn more about how we can help your vehicle stay in its best shape, please give us a call at 203-259-3839. For more tips and tricks, make sure to like us on Facebook!