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Top five mistakes to be avoided while changing your engine oil

If you are planning on doing the oil change process for your car yourself, then there are a few things you must know. Mistakes can prove to be a costly affair, especially if your car engine gets damaged. Here are a few common oil change mistakes that people tend to make and what you need to do to avoid them.

Using the wrong oil
One of the main functions of engine oil is to keep the meal parts of the engine lubricated, thus reducing to its wear and tear.

Top five mistakes to be avoided while changing your engine oil
It’s role doesn’t end there. Oil also provides hydraulic pressure to your car’s engine parts required for the smooth running of your car. Using the wrong oil can create issues with these hydraulic components contribution to engine damage. While buying the right oil, you need to ensure that its viscosity (weight of the oil) is suitable for the engine. You’ll have to choose between thick, thin synthetic or conventional oils. The best way to go about this is to consult the car’s owner manual to ensure you are picking the right grade oil.

Losing track of oil changes
Most people forget to keep track of the number of miles driven or the number of months since the last oil change. Changing oil too soon or too late can cause engine damage. Hence, it is vital that you keep a note somewhere.

Installing the wrong oil filter
A lot of people neglect the importance of using the right oil filter. Oil filters help in preventing leaks, filtering the oil. It ensures that the oils doesn’t accumulate dirt that clogs up your engine’s internal parts. Not using the right size or not putting the filter on properly can cause oil leaks, putting your engine at significant risk. It is therefore essential to use suitable, high-quality oil filters. You can get the right advice and recommendation from you car company to prevent damage.

Not putting the right amount of oil
It is extremely essential that you feed your engine with the right amount of oil. Under filling can reduce the lubrication, causing friction between internal parts and the subsequent damage to the engine components. Over-filling can cause the oil to foam-up and reduce the hydraulic pressure. It can also cause leaks by adding extra pressure on the pct system. Make sure you park your car on a flat surface to fill the right amount of oil.

Not changing the O-ring
The O-ring must be changed every time you change the oil filter ad they get worn out fairly quickly. The O-ring acts a seal to the filter, preventing oil leakage.

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