February 5, 2023

Here’s the Easiest Way to Avoid Engine Failure

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Oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. It lubricates the engine’s internal moving parts, protecting them from wear and tear. Oil also prevents dirt buildup and helps keep the engine from overheating. 

Regularly inspecting your car’s oil level is the easiest way to avoid engine failure and the huge repair cost that comes with it. This is especially important if you’re driving an older car model. After your car reaches the 100,000-mile mark, engine wear causes it to burn off small amounts of oil every time you drive. When that loss adds up, the engine’s oil level goes down before your scheduled regular oil change. High-mileage cars are also more susceptible to oil leaks.

Checking the oil level is a quick and easy job that any driver can do themself. You can check your car’s engine oil level between your scheduled oil changes to ensure that the oil has not become too low or too dirty. Veteran Car Donations shares these three simple steps on how to inspect your oil:

• Step 1: Prepare a rag and locate the dipstick.

Prepare a lint-free rag or a piece of old fabric. Ensure your car is parked on level ground with the engine off and the transmission in park (P). Lift the hood of the car to locate the dipstick. On most vehicles, the dipstick has a small colored handle (usually yellow or orange) and is marked with the oil can symbol. If you’re not sure where to find the dipstick, you can find a detailed description of where it is in your vehicle owner’s manual.

• Step 2: Pull the dipstick.

The next step is to pull the dipstick entirely out of the tube it’s housed in. Imagine pulling a sword from a sheath. Use the lint-free rag or old t-shirt to wipe any oil off at the end of the dipstick.

Insert the dipstick into the tube slowly and carefully push it all the way down. Pull the dipstick out again and check its tip, which should have oil clinging to it.  

Every dipstick has an oil level indicator, whether it be two pinholes, the words MIN and MAX, the letter L and H (low and high), or simply a crosshatched area.

If the oil streak is between those two indicators, it means the engine has enough oil. If the oil is at the low mark or below, touch the end of the dipstick with two fingers and feel the texture of the oil. If the oil is clean, you can add a quart of fresh oil using a funnel. If the oil looks and feels dirty and gritty, it’s time for an oil change.

• Step 3: wait and re-check.

Assuming the oil is still clean and you’ve added a quart of fresh oil, wait a couple of minutes for the oil to drain down into the tube. Pull out the dipstick once again to re-check that the oil level is between the high and low marks. Keep in mind that the oil level doesn’t have to be at the high mark for your engine to run safely. 

If the oil level is where it should be (between the high and low marks), and the oil’s color and smell aren’t suspicious, put the dipstick back into the tube again, making sure it’s stuck and secured correctly. That’s it! You’re done inspecting your oil!

Remember that there’s no need to check your engine’s oil level every day, but checking it every other gas fill-ups is a healthy habit that ensures your engine is being properly lubricated.

Looking for the Best Way to Dispose of Your Unwanted Car?

Do you have an old car that’s just gathering dust in your garage? If you’re no longer interested in driving it or if it’s no longer in good condition, consider clearing out your garage by donating that vehicle to us at Veteran Car Donations.

Handing that auto to us is more than just getting rid of it for free. You’ll also be helping the disadvantaged and neglected veterans in your community overcome the tough challenges they’re facing. They include those who are homeless and jobless as well as those suffering from service-connected disabilities and serious illnesses, including mental disorders.

We’ll have your auto donation auctioned off, with the proceeds distributed to our veteran-focused charity partners. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofits use the funding we give them to provide deserving veterans with housing and financial assistance, employment and livelihood opportunities, family support, free quality health care and medical treatment, psychotherapy services, scholarships, and other services meant to improve their living conditions.

You will be amply rewarded for your charitable contribution. You will enjoy our fast and free pickup and towing service anywhere you are in the country. What’s more, you’ll also be entitled to receive the highest possible tax deduction in the next tax season.

The best reward you’ll get as a donor, however, is the joy of knowing that your donation will be used to uplift the lives of our nation’s hurting heroes.

You can donate almost any type of vehicle whether still in good condition or no longer.

For more information about our vehicle donation program, you may browse through our FAQs page. Message us here or give us a call anytime through our toll-free hotline at 877-594-5822 if you have any concerns or inquiries,

Help Transform the Lives of Our Heroes Today!

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Your car donation is the best gift you can give to our hurting heroes living in your community. It can help turn their lives around. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our secure online donation form now!

Last Updated: March 9th, 2023