Eight out of 10 drivers don’t know when to change their car’s oil – find out what to do and how often
An engine oil check is one of the most crucial car maintenance jobs every driver needs to know how to do
MAINTAINING your vehicle's engine oil levels is one of the most important elements of car maintenance.
But a worrying number of Brits have no idea how regularly they should be changing their oil, putting their cars at risk of serious damage.
A survey by Fixter.co.uk found a whopping 81 per cent of motorists didn't know how many miles they could do before making an oil change.
And most drivers admitted to just checking their oil levels at random.
As a general rule, engine oil should be changed every 3,000-5,000 miles, or approximately every six months - although some modern cars can last 7,500-10,000 miles before a change.
However, as different engine types use different oil, the time between changes is usually specific to your car.
How to change your car's engine oil
As a basic guideline, you should change your vehicle's oil every 3,000 - 5,000 miles, or approximately every six months. Here's how to perform the simple maintenance task:
- Start your engine - Before you begin an oil change, warm up your engine for just a few minutes to clear out any gunk and make draining oil easier - but don't run the car too long or you risk burning yourself on a hot engine block. Be sure to TURN THE CAR OFF again before you start the next step.
- Find your drain plug - This is the large bolt or nut at the bottom of the engine. You may need to crawl under your car to reach it. Place a large container underneath the bolt and unscrew it. The oil should start flowing quickly into the pan.
- Empty the oil filter - On the top of your engine where you top up the oil, remove the cap, then unscrew your oil filter, twisting it counter-clockwise. Empty the oil from the filter into the drain pan and wrap it in newspaper, setting it to one side.
- Add new oil filter - If you are replacing your oil filter, screw the new one in where the old one was, gently turning by hand until firm. If you are using the same filter, make sure it is clean enough to be replaced.
- Replace drain plug - Once all oil has drained from underneath your car, wipe around the hole with a rag, and replace the bolt, tightening until firm.
- Add new oil - Pour approximately one litre of oil into the oil filler hold on top of the engine. Replace the cap and run your engine for one minute. Check for any leaks around the drain plug and filter.
- Check oil level - Turn off your engine, leaving it to cool for around 10 minutes. Remove the oil dipstick (the long pin sticking out near the oil filler hole), check the oil level. Continue to top up oil and check dipstick until it reaches the "full" level.
- Test drive - Take your car for a quick spin, then let the engine settle for 10 minutes. Check your oil level again. If it's full, you've completed your oil change. If not, continue to slowly top up until the dipstick reads "full".
Motorists are always advised to check their owner's handbook to find out exactly how often the manufacturer recommends changing engine oil.
Before starting an oil change, you should turn your engine on for only a few minutes to help clear gunk out of the oil and make it flow more easily.
After switching the car off again, the task then involves draining the old oil from the bottom of the engine and clearing the oil filter.
Once the clean filter and the drain plug have been replaced, simply refill your oil via the cap on the top of the engine.
Be sure to check the dipstick level and take your car for a quick test drive before beginning any long journeys.
The survey also found Brits were ignoring dashboard warning lights, with one in 10 admitting to currently driving around with one on.
Drivers generally ignored the light to delay going to the mechanics, while just 26 per cent knew what the different warning lights actually mean.
Matt Lewis, spokesperson for , said: "When you’re going through the process of learning to drive, you learn the basics of taking care of your car, from how to check the oil levels to what the warning lights on your dashboard mean.
your guide to car maintenance
"To hear that so many drivers aren’t concerned when these lights appear, or even know what some key components of their car do, is shocking to hear.
“If any warning lights appear on your dashboard, you should see a mechanic as soon as you possibly can.
"A warning light could mean a myriad of things and none of them are good – particularly if it’s a red warning light."