Car engine levels

JamesFromSomewhere

I bought a car about a month ago and the windscreen washer liquid appears to have ran out. I have thought to check the levels on the car until now and have a few questions.

I've found the windscreen cap, but no idea if I can check the level? I'm guessing it's empty because it's stopped spraying. How would I know the level if it still worked? How much can I put in if I can't find see the level? I was shown how to check the level on my instructors car but his car isn't from 2007!

Also, assuming the yellow pull thing definitely is the oil level thing, it appears to be empty or at least lower then the min as the thing comes out clean. I assume the oil cap is the oil bottle thing with oil dripping out? Do I pour oil in until I can see it on the yellow thing?

What's the orange stuff with the yellow triangle on the cap?

I appreciate I'm an idiot who knows nothing about cars. Thank you.

daveyjp

Blue is the washer fluid.  You don't need a level check, you top it up every few weeks when doing other checks.

Looks like you need oil.  The min max and cold is coolant level and its fine.

JamesFromSomewhere

daveyjp said:

Blue is the washer fluid.  You don't need a level check, you top it up every few weeks when doing other checks.

Looks like you need oil.  The min max and cold is coolant level and its fine.

Thank you

Nobbie1967

When was it last serviced? It might be worth getting at least an oil and filter change if it’s over a year.

Brie

I've never had a car fancy enough to have a washer fluid indicator anywhere.  So when it stops working I just tip in some fluid until I can see it and it most likely overflows.  I don't bother to check it regularly as others have recommended because I'm lazy.  I do check the OH's monster car before we go on long trips but my tiddle toy car is only used for local commuting so less of a disaster if something goes wrong.  

Stateofart

Orange fluid is water for the car.  It looks at a good level to me.  Leave the Power Steering alone, it looks okay to me as well.  The oil can logo on the black cap is engine oil - this looks low AND old (due to it's black colour.  Consider a oil change at a local place - shouldn't cost too much tbh.

Iceweasel

Get a 5 litre bottle of 'ready to use' screenwash from Halfords, Lidl, or Aldi and just fill the reservoir right to the top.

As others have said, I think an oil and oil-filter change would be a good idea.

Goudy

Blue Cap is the washer fluid.
You can just use pre mixed screen wash to top it up so you can see the level under the cap.
Top up once a month.

Yellow faded cap with the orange fluid in the clear tank is the engine coolant expansion tank.
The level is OK, but check the level when everything is cold every month, it shouldn't change much.


Yellow cap with the steering wheel on is the power steering fluid.
If you shine a light at the header tank under the cap, you should be able to see it's level.
If it's low, top it up with power steering fluid.
Open the cap and look at the colour. It should be cherry red.
If it's dirty brown and looks a bit like burnt chip pan oil it could probably need a flush and new fluid.
If all is good just check it once a month, again it shouldn't change much.


Black cap with a picture of an oil can is where you top up the engine oil.

The dipstick is the yellow ringed handle you use to check the oil level when engine is cool.
The cut out notches on the dipstick indicate what sort of level it should be at.
To check, pull it out when the engine has cooled down a little, wipe the oil off and re dip it all the way in again to take a reading.
Check it once a month.
(if it keeps going down fast you might have an oil leak which is why the level appears low now) 


It looks like it's very low on engine oil from the picture.
If that is the real level, top it up ASAP with the correct grade and spec of engine oil for you car's engine. (ask at your local motor factors or check the owners manual). 

I would guess if the level in the picture is correct it would take another litre at least, but pour it in a quarter of a litre at a time and keep checking the level until it comes up between the notches on the dipstick.

The engine oil also looks very black.
This would be perfectly normal for a diesel engine car as soot from combustion will turn even the newest, cleanest engine oil black the moment the engine was started. 

If this was a petrol car, it wants an engine oil and engine oil filter change pretty soon as it looks very old and dirty.
But top up the low oil level before you do anything else, the right level is vital.

Most of these fluid levels will change depending on temperature as they all expand when hot.
So try and check them with they are cool/cold.

Any that suddenly and drastically drop down (or in some cases increase drastically) means there is a problem somewhere, which is why you check them regularly.
Do this and you should get some fuss free, happy motoring out of it.

Ditzy_Mitzy

That's a Mark Two Focus, that is!  Think it's either a 1.6 or 1.8 petrol, the diesel has a square cam cover.  

As others have said, it desperately needs some oil; probably best to consider an oil and filter change* given it's a bit black and dirty looking.  Put some in anyway until you can arrange the change, as it's low.  Coolant looks all right, but monitor and advice regarding power steering fluid has been given.

Top up the windscreen washer fluid until it's full, but be aware that the system may need priming if it has run dry.  The usual way is to pull the wipers away from the windscreen and then depress the switch until fluid emerges from the jets.  

*actually, have it serviced.  If the oil is in that condition then it's likely other bits have been neglected.  

Goudy

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

That's a Mark Two Focus, that is!  

That explains the French writing on the steering fluid cap!

Ditzy_Mitzy

Goudy said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

That's a Mark Two Focus, that is!  

That explains the French writing on the steering fluid cap!

C'est pas un PAS...