Pop the hood:

AN EASY-PEASY GUIDE TO CHECKING YOUR CAR'S OIL AND WATER

An easy-peasy guide to looking after your car

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.

Pop the clean dipstick all the way back into the engine, wait a moment, then pull it out again. Now its time to check your oil levels.

Before you begin, make sure your car engine is cold and on level ground. You'll need to wait a little while after turning off the ignition for the oil to cool and settle. Then, pop the bonnet and locate the dipstick, which will usually look like a round plastic handle sticking out the side of the engine. Pull it out and wipe any oil from its end with a rag or piece of paper.

Every dipstick has two indicators along its length — they could be teeny holes, the letters 'I: (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.