Can You Put Oil In A Hot Car Engine? [ Here’s The Answer ]

For the excellent performance of your car, you must do routine oil changing. You must immediately fill up your car with oil as soon as its level goes down to prevent the risk of engine failure and help the optimal running of your car.

If your oil change light starts blinking, it is probably an indication that there is some issue with the oil in your car.

Your car is telling you that there is a risk of damage due to a lack of lubrication inside your engine, and it is time for you to add lubrication. But is it alright to change or add oil to your car engine while it is still hot? Let us look at it in detail.

Can you put oil in a hot car engine?

When you start noticing oil-related problems or feel like it’s time to change your oil, you must do so by attempting to cause minimum or no damage to the engine. However, you could experience severe burns if you are in the process of changing the oil if it is still hot. So it is advised to cool down your car for 20 to 30 minutes before changing the oil.

If you’re merely adding oil and not changing it, you can do it while the engine is still hot without a problem. Your hot engine will not be affected by the cold oil.

However, if you’re going to measure the oil first, you should let your vehicle cool down first. Oil expands as it is heated. Therefore, if you check it while your car is hot, you won’t obtain an accurate reading.

What happens when you pour oil in a hot engine?

A scorching hot engine is always likely to cause a fire hazard, and it might cause smoking or an explosion if you spill oil while filling up. Experts say it is best to add oil to a car engine when it is warm. But you should add oil to your car when the engine is cooled down.

However, when checking the car oil level, you should wait until the engine is cooled down for at least sometime around five to ten minutes. However, many modern cars have inbuilt oil level electric controllers that indicate the level of oil in the engine.

Should I allow my car to cool down before adding oil?

It’s best to change the oil when your car is still warm. Allow your vehicle to run for a few minutes after starting it. The oil will become less dense and flow more quickly after a few minutes.

The oil will heat up sufficiently to prevent the old oil from adhering to the oil pan and other engine components. You can also change the motor oil while still warm to avoid getting burned.

When your engine is cold, you can also choose to add oil. If you change the oil rather than just adding it, you won’t risk burning yourself. However, you’ll note that the oil’s thickness makes draining the oil more difficult.

Knowing the importance of a correct oil level

Because it works as a lubricant between moving parts, oil is a crucial component of your engine. Lubrication aids in reducing friction, which in turn aids in the reduction of heat. If the oil didn’t do its job, your engine would overheat, resulting in costly repairs or perhaps a new engine.

However, this does not rule out the presence of extremely high heat levels in a healthy engine. Your motor oil begins to burn off gradually, reducing the overall amount of fluid in the system.

If you don’t change the oil, your engine is more prone to corrosion and damage. Checking your oil can tell you how low it is and whether you need to refill it. The first step in this procedure is to locate your engine’s oil dipstick.

It usually appears as a little yellow ring. Pull it out, wipe the oil off, and then reinsert it. Examine where the bead of oil falls on the stick about the markings when you are about. Don’t be concerned if it appears to be in good condition.

Fill up on oil little by little if it’s looking low. If you’re curious, you shouldn’t fill up with the dipstick. There should be a much wider hole on top of your engine block for the oil. The category of engine oil used is usually indicated on the lid of this hole.

Using the wrong kind could result in severe consequences, so make sure you get it correctly the first time. Though filling up little by little may seem tedious and then rechecking it, it is essential to avoid overflowing your reservoir. You’ll also have a better notion of how much oil your engine requires in the future.

Ways to check your car oil level

If you check your oil once a week for a month, you’ll see how quickly it depletes—or if it depletes at all. Once you have found out, you can check it less frequently—like once a month. Here’s how to tell if your oil needs to be changed:

Step 1: Prepare to check

Check whether your car is parked on level ground with the engine turned off, the gearbox in Park (or a lower gear if you have a manual transmission), and the parking brake engaged.

Remove the hood. Consult your owner’s handbook if you’re unsure how to do it. Most automobiles include a hood-release lever on the left side of the instrument panel. You’ll also need to unlatch a safety catch beneath the front edge of the hood before you can raise it.

Step 2: Locate the dipstick

Most vehicles have a small coloured handle—usually yellow or orange—marked with an oil-can emblem, making it simple to detect the dipstick.

Step 3: Pull the dipstick

Pull the dipstick entirely out of the tube it’s in. Wipe any oil off the dipstick’s end using a paper towel or a rag. Two lines appear at the tip of the dipstick: the lower one shows that the oil level is one quart low. The crankcase (the car’s oil tank) is complete, as indicated by the upper line. Words like “full” and “add” are also written on certain dipsticks.

Step 4: Note the oil level

Gently put the dipstick into the tube and press it down. Now take it out and examine the tip, which should be covered in oil. If the level of oil is between the two lines, your vehicle has enough oil. It’s time to add a quart if it’s at or below the low mark.

Step 5: Wait and recheck

Wait for sometime for the oil to drain into the crankcase after adding a quart of oil, then recheck the level to ensure it’s between the high and low levels. Your engine doesn’t need to be lubricated to run safely, and thus the oil level doesn’t have to be high.

How long should the engine cool before adding oil?

You can add oil to the engine when it is hot, warm, or cold, and there are only a few minor distinctions. However, you should ensure that the engine isn’t too hot or too cold.

For example, if the weather is below freezing and your vehicle has been sitting for an extended period, you shouldn’t change the oil. In this case, you must start your car and allow it to warm up for a few minutes.

Conclusion

An important fluid in your car is engine oil, which helps it run smoothly. Because all engines use a specific amount of oil, it’s critical to check the level regularly. This is the optimum time to do it when the engine is hot because it will give you an accurate reading.

If the oil level is below or close to the MIN mark, top it up as soon as possible. There is no chance of deterioration to any car parts if you add oil to the engine when it is hot. As said, prevention is better than cure, it is always advised to meddle with engine oil when it is cool.