Oil is definitely the lifeblood of your car’s engine. During the normal use of your Pontiac, Buick, or GMC, the combustion process produces acids and other harmful chemicals; your engine oil neutralizes these to prevent rust and corrosion. In addition to this, during regular use of your engine, metallic pieces will naturally shear off. These particles end up in your engine oil, which will thicken it beyond usefulness over time.

How to Check Your Oil and How Often

Every driver should check their oil levels every week to ensure there is enough oil in the engine to protect it. However, if you have noticed, especially in older cars, that you may be leaking oil you should check more regularly. It’s a very simple process and can be completed by anyone. Checking your oil should be done while the engine is warm, as temperature changes the viscosity of oil and you will get a different reading if checking a cold engine.

Make sure your car is parked on a level surface, and turn the ignition off. Pop the hood and look for the oil dipstick, a long piece of metal with a loop at one end normally located near the sparkplugs. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a paper towel or rag. Place the dipstick back in the oil reservoir making sure it goes all the way down, and remove it. Holding the dipstick horizontally, make sure the oil is at the “full” marker.

Most dipsticks either have a horizontal line labelled “full” or two lines with a pattern in between them. If your dipstick is the latter, the oil level should be halfway between the two lines. If you’re still uncertain how to tell if the oil reservoir is full, refer to your owner’s manual. If you have determined that your oil is low, you can either add oil yourself or have a mechanic do it for you.

Your oil should be replaced every 3000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first. An oil change is something that many people decide to do for themselves, or you can take your car in to Lankford auto to be serviced. If completing the oil change yourself, make sure you know about the oil disposal bylaws in your area.

Don’t feel like changing your own oil? We understand! Stop by your Philadelphia Pontiac, GMC, and Buick dealers and we’ll happily do the dirty work for you.