frankie Magazine – September-October 2019

get shit done

Beforeyoubegin,makesureyourcar

engineiscoldandonlevelground.

You’llneedtowaitalittlewhile

afterturningofftheignitionforthe

oiltocoolandsettle.Then,pop

thebonnetandlocatethedipstick,

whichwillusuallylooklikearound

plastichandlestickingouttheside

oftheengine.Pullitoutandwipe

anyoilfromitsendwitharagor

pieceofpaper.

Popthecleandipstickalltheway

backintotheengine,waitamoment,

thenpullitoutagain.Nowit’stimeto

checkyouroillevels.

Every dipstick has two indicators

along its length – they could be

teeny holes, the letters ‘L’ (low) and

‘H’ (high), or the words ‘MIN’ and

‘MAX’. If the oil line sits between

them, you’re looking good, and can

carry on driving! If it’s below the

bottom marker, however, you’ll need

to give your engine oil a top-up.

pop te hood

AN EASY-PEASY GUIDE TO CHECKING

YOUR CAR’S OIL AND WATER.

Wor d s Sophie Kalagas Illustrations Ashley Ronning

CHECKING YOUR OIL

Keeping on top of automotive maintenance can be a little overwhelming if you’re not

a natural car person, but learning how to check your engine oil and water (or more

accurately, coolant) could save you a bunch of money and strife in the long run.

The oil reduces friction in your engine, which keeps it running smoothly for longer;

coolant, on the other hand, prevents overheating (and a subsequent breakdown)

by absorbing engine heat. It’s a good idea to check both at least once a month.