Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
This old American addage still applies today. But if that’s already your mode and you’re wearing out an older car, it might be burning oil without showing any signs of leaking. This happens when a little grit gets through the air filter into the oil and then gets caught between the cylinder and piston. It makes a tiny groove on the inside of the cylinder and a bit of oil leaks into the combustion chamber and is combusted with the fuel.
So the tip of the day is to go run your car(s) for about 5 minutes, shut off the engine(s) and after a minute or so, pull out the dip stick. (look in your manual if you don’t know where the dip stick is.) Wipe off the oil and put it all the way back in. Pull it out and the oil should be almost to the top line. If it’s nearer the bottom line or dot, add a quart of motor oil through the screw on cap on the top of the engine marked ‘oil’. The type you need will be either on the top of the engine or in your manual. Check the level again with the dipstick and see if it’s up to the top. Add gradually so you don’t overfill. Replace the screw on cap on the top of your engine.
Our little corolla burns almost a quart of oil per fuel fill-up. It doesn’t smoke (but it does take alchohol). It’s getting close to 200,000 miles. It’s dinged and scratched but I want it to last through the summer at least. If it burns out all its oil, the engine will sieze and it will throw a rod and we’ll have it towed to the salvage yard. Insurance doesn’t cover it. Do this today! It is not a man’s job, it’s a driver’s job. It’s SO much easier to add oil than to shop for a new car!
This old American addage still applies today. But if that’s already your mode and you’re wearing out an older car, it might be burning oil without showing any signs of leaking. This happens when a little grit gets through the air filter into the oil and then gets caught between the cylinder and piston. It makes a tiny groove on the inside of the cylinder and a bit of oil leaks into the combustion chamber and is combusted with the fuel.
So the tip of the day is to go run your car(s) for about 5 minutes, shut off the engine(s) and after a minute or so, pull out the dip stick. (look in your manual if you don’t know where the dip stick is.) Wipe off the oil and put it all the way back in. Pull it out and the oil should be almost to the top line. If it’s nearer the bottom line or dot, add a quart of motor oil through the screw on cap on the top of the engine marked ‘oil’. The type you need will be either on the top of the engine or in your manual. Check the level again with the dipstick and see if it’s up to the top. Add gradually so you don’t overfill. Replace the screw on cap on the top of your engine.
Our little corolla burns almost a quart of oil per fuel fill-up. It doesn’t smoke (but it does take alchohol). It’s getting close to 200,000 miles. It’s dinged and scratched but I want it to last through the summer at least. If it burns out all its oil, the engine will sieze and it will throw a rod and we’ll have it towed to the salvage yard. Insurance doesn’t cover it. Do this today! It is not a man’s job, it’s a driver’s job. It’s SO much easier to add oil than to shop for a new car!
(PS)I grocery shopped early this morning. I found boneless chicken breasts for $1.80 lb. when I got home, I spent 15 minutes bottling 12 pints of chicken. Now it’s ready to eat, needs no refridgeration and I can have chicken sandwiches, barbeque pulled chicken, chicken enchaladas etc in a few minutes. Want instructions?
1 Comment
dang- a qt / fill up? you do need a new car!