BERLIN: Many drivers put off checking their vehicle's oil level, but that can cause serious damage to the engine, experts warn.
A lack of oil wears out the engine and can cause thermal problems and malfunction or even capital damage, according to Dekra, a German vehicle testing organisation.
To avoid this, you should check your car's oil level regularly, every 1,000km and before longer journeys, the experts recommend.
Park your car on level ground and make sure the engine is still warm, but let it cool down for a minute or two before checking the oil with the dipstick.
If the level is low, don't pour in an entire litre of oil all at once as exceeding the maximum oil level indicated can also damage your engine, Dekra says. Instead, add a quarter litre and check the level again.
When not sure what kind of oil to use, check the manufacturer's specifications or ask for help at a local repair shop.
If the little red oil light comes on on your dashboard, that means there's a problem with the oil pressure and the best thing to do in that case is to immediately stop the car, turn off the engine and call a repair shop for help, according to Dekra.
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