The engine of every fuel-powered vehicle needs oil to function properly. Aside from that, engines need enough oil; not too much and not too little. The roles that oil serves in the engines of vehicles makes it a very important fluid for engines to have. There are several risks and dangers that drivers can introduce their vehicles to when they drive with low oil levels.
The Role of Oil
Oil has three purposes in a vehicle’s engine. Primarily, oil provides lubrication for a vehicle’s engine by forming a layer of film over the engine’s components. This film layer prevents the parts from grinding against one another and causing unnecessary damage.
Oil helps keep an engine cool by absorbing the heat that the engine produces as it runs. The engine’s oil, which continuously cycles around the engine as the engine is running, then dissipates this heat through convection.
As it passes over the components of a vehicle’s engine, oil collects debris and keeps the engine’s components clean. The oil filter of the engine then picks up this debris as the oil passes through the filter. This process is continually repeated as a vehicle’s engine runs.
Problems Caused by Low Oil Levels
There are a variety of problems that can be caused when a driver drives their vehicle with a low oil level. Oil cannot function properly in a vehicle’s engine when there isn’t enough of the fluid. Primarily, oil cannot provide an adequate amount of lubrication to a vehicle’s engine when there isn’t enough oil in the engine. This can decrease the lifespan of the vehicle’s engine by allowing the parts to damage one another with excess friction between the parts.
When an engine’s oil level is low, the engine will not have enough oil to absorb the heat of the engine. Combined with the additional heat that is produced by the increased friction between the engine’s components, the engine will begin to be damaged by its excess heat. Excessive heat in a vehicle’s engine can damage the engine’s parts and can easily cause the parts to warp, forcing them to lose alignment with one another.
An engine will not be cleaned properly when its oil level is too low. The engine will simply not have enough oil to pass over its internal components, and the oil that is in the engine will become too contaminated to sufficiently clean the engine. Therefore, the debris of the engine will remain in the engine and can cause further damage to the engine.
Checking Your Vehicle’s Oil Level
Checking your vehicle’s oil level can be very simple and is something that you should do routinely to avoid experiencing the problems that are associated with driving with a low oil level. If your vehicle is equipped with the technology, then checking the oil level of your vehicle’s engine can be as simple as pressing a few buttons and accessing a few menus from the cabin of the vehicle. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for instructions if it is equipped with this feature.
The engines of many vehicles are equipped with dipsticks. Dipsticks allow drivers to check the oil levels of their vehicles’ engines. If your vehicle has a dipstick, then you can check the engine’s oil level by parking the vehicle on a flat surface and removing the dipstick from its tube. Once you have removed the dipstick, you will need to use a rag to wipe off the existing oil that is on the dipstick. After wiping off the dipstick, place it back into its tube and remove it once again. There will be oil once again on the dipstick, and you will then need to look at where the top of the oil line is on the dipstick. If the top of the oil line is in between the “minimum” and “maximum” markings of the dipstick, then your vehicle’s engine has enough oil in it. If the line is below the minimum marking, then you will need to fill your vehicle’s engine with more oil.
Oil Change Maintenance Schedule
To make sure that your vehicle’s engine always has an adequate amount of fresh oil, you should have the vehicle’s oil changed routinely. Manufacturers generally recommend that drivers have their vehicles’ oil changed between every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. However, there are many different types of oil that are available on the market and many different types of engines that are used in vehicles. Therefore, you should refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine what the manufacturer recommends for your specific vehicle.
Conclusion
You should always make sure that your vehicle’s engine has enough oil. Oil is one of the most important fluids for your vehicle’s engine and will prevent the engine from being damaged as it runs. At Rob Green Buick GMC, we provide products and services that you can depend on. Visit our dealership if you would like to learn more about proper vehicle maintenance or would like us to service your vehicle.
