Yes. It’s possible to put engine oil when car is hot.
However, doing this isn’t recommended because you put yourself at risk of being burned. Aside from that, checking your oil levels will practically be impossible due to your engine’s heat. For that reason, it’s highly recommended that you let your vehicle cool off for 20 to 30 minutes.
Being able to know when to conduct an oil change on your vehicle is very important.
Knocking noises are a telltale sign that your car needs servicing. Another way to know if you need new engine oil is to simply check your engine and follow your vehicle’s instruction manual.
You see, the majority of car manufacturers recommend that you perform an oil change every 5000 to 7000 miles. Moreover, you should know that vehicles that use synthetic oil only need servicing every 15000 miles.
So how do you change your car’s engine oil? In this article, we’ll talk about just that. Aside from that, we’ll also go over everything else that’s relevant to the subject. That way, you won’t be left with any questions in your head.
Table of Contents
Can I use Cold Oil in a Hot Engine?
Yes. To put it simply, you can put oil in a hot engine.
Needless to say, we don’t recommend that you do this as you run the risk of getting severely burned. Additionally, it’ll be next to impossible to check your oil levels because of the heat of your engine.
Only add oil to a hot engine when absolutely necessary. Remember that just because you can do it, doesn’t mean that it should be done. Besides that, your safety is incredibly important.
Why Is It Important to Have A Correct Oil Level?
It’s essential to maintain the correct oil level of your vehicle because this will prevent its engine from breaking down. You see, the job of engine oil is to lubricate, clean, and cool your engine’s many moving components.
Remember that maintaining a regular oil changing schedule is much better than wearing out the engine of your car. As such, it’s incredibly important to always have correct oil levels. When that is done, you’ll be able to save a lot on maintenance and repair costs.
How To Check The Oil Level?
A lot of modern vehicles have an engine oil level indicator on their dashboard that makes it easy to know when it’s time for an oil change. However, those with older models will need to check their engine oil levels the old-fashioned way. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
- Open your vehicle’s instruction manual and check whether it’s recommended that you check the oil levels when your engine’s temperature is either cold or warm
- Make sure you’re parked on a leveled surface
- Check your car’s instruction manual once more to know where its dipstick is located
- Pull the dipstick out and then wipe it clean with a piece of cloth to eliminate oil residue
- There should be two notches on your dipstick. The distance between these notches indicates where your minimum and maximum oil levels should be.
- Reinsert your engine’s dipstick slowly back where it came from. Following that, slowly pull it out again to check your engine’s oil levels.
- Any oil residue on your dipstick should be found between the markings I mentioned earlier.
- If you’ve got low levels of oil, then it’s time for an oil change.
- Check your vehicle’s manual to determine which type of engine oil is best for it. Newer cars tend to run better on synthetic oil whereas older models run better with normal oil.
Can I Add Engine Oil Instead of Changing It?
It really depends. You’ll know the answer to this question by checking the color of your engine’s oil. Dark, cloudy, or engine oil with a gritty texture must be changed. Meanwhile, oil that’s still good should have the color of light honey. That said, keep in mind this isn’t always the case.
Should I Let My Car Cool Down Before Adding Oil?
Yes. As mentioned earlier, it’s best to park your car on a flat surface and wait for it to cool down for 20 to 30 minutes before you add oil. That way, you can guarantee that you’ll not end up with burns after performing an oil change.
Needless to say, if you’re absolutely in a rush to change your hot engine’s oil, then make sure to do so very carefully. If possible, wear protective gear such as gloves and a jacket.
How To Put Oil In A Car?
If you need to change your vehicle’s engine oil, there’s no need to worry. You don’t need to go to your mechanic to do this because it’s incredibly easy. To do so, simply follow these steps:
- Check your car’s manual to know what’s the recommended engine oil for your car
- Open the hood of your vehicle
- Locate the oil filling port, which should be right on top of the engine
- Slowly add the appropriate amount of oil. You may use your dipstick to check whether you’re already at the right level.
- Close your engine’s oil cap and you should be all done
Remember that you should only add oil to your vehicle when you need to. Also, you need to use the right kind of engine oil as you risk damaging your vehicle. Last but not least, be sure to perform an oil change according to what’s stated in your vehicle’s instruction manual.
What Happens When Engine Oil Gets Too Hot?
Your car’s engine oil can get too hot. When that happens, it will degrade and then cause your vehicle to perform significantly worse than how it normally would.
Once your engine oil is degraded, it’s time for an oil change.
Check to see your oil levels and go ahead with performing an oil change by following the steps mentioned above. You should be all done quickly and find yourself on the road once more.
Putting It All Together
It’s possible to put oil in your car’s engine even though it’s still hot. We strongly recommend that you refrain from doing this though. How come? Working on an engine that hasn’t cooled down can result in you getting burns that may require medical attention.
With all that being said, maintaining the oil levels of your vehicle’s engine is very important. All vehicle owners should know how to check how much oil their car has. Moreover, they should also be aware of how to perform an oil change and what kind of engine oil they should utilize.
