Keep your car running smoothly through regular oil checks

Many drivers will tend to listen to the radio or music when they drive and so it can be difficult to spot any changes in engine noise, or hear if a strange sound develops. These changes can be telltale signs that there is something wrong with your car, sometimes if left unchecked these noises can lead to serious damage.

If the engine gets louder over time, this can point to the engine's oil running low or needing replacing. It is pretty rare that a car will need its oil completely replacing, especially if it is relatively new. Oil will need topping up every now and then in order to make sure the engine doesn't run dry and become inefficient.

Different cars need different oil types and they come in a variety of different weights. It is important when topping up the oil, that you read your car's manual and find out what type of oil your car takes. Getting this wrong can be costly as the oil will need to be drained and replaced. Once you have found and bought the correct oil you need to check how much is needed.

In order to get a good reading you need to have driven the car for a bit and then leave the engine to settle for ten or fifteen minutes. Once the car has settled remove the car's dipstick, this will be under the bonnet near the engine oil cap. Once you've removed it, clean it off with a rag or some paper towels. Reinsert the stick all the way and then remove it again. You should have a clear indication now of how much oil is in the engine.

The dipstick will have two markers, you want the oil level to fall between these two markers (min and max). If it is too low then pour some more oil into the engine via the filler cap. Try to do this in small increments such as a paper cup's worth at a time. This way you shouldn't overfill the engine. Overfilling slightly isn't going to do massive damage but overfilling by pouring lots more than is required can put serious strain on the engine's oil seals and could cause permanent damage, so be careful.

Once you're satisfied that the level is within the two markers on the dipstick then you can replace the caps and close the bonnet. You should check your oil levels regularly, some experts insist you check your oil level every week although if you have a relatively new car you probably don't have to check it as often as that.