How To Check Engine Oil

Your engine oil is as essential to your car as your blood is to your body. Without it, your motor won’t run. And just like a doctor can tell a lot about your health by testing your blood, you can learn a lot about your car by checking your oil.

Motor oil lubricates your engine and keeps all the moving parts from seizing. It reduces friction and helps to prevent overheating. And it flushes out metal flakes and other debris that could build up and damage your engine.

Checking your oil takes only a few minutes, and it’s something you should do at least once a month. You need a shop towel or any old rag, and you’re ready to get started.

6 Steps For Checking Your Oil

So, how do you check your oil? Here’s a quick six-step guide.

1. Park On Level Ground

To begin with, park your car on level ground. If you park your car on a hill, the oil will not sit level in the reservoir, and you’ll get a false reading. Along the same lines, make sure the engine is cool. If you’ve been driving recently, wait around 15 minutes for the temperature to cool down.

You want to wait for the oil to settle back in the pan and reach its full level. However, some modern manufacturers have designed their dipsticks to read correctly at any temperature. Check your owner’s manual for specific guidelines if you're not sure.

2. Find And Remove The Dipstick

Now, pop opens your hood and look for the oil dipstick. Unfortunately, there’s no universal standard for this. It frequently has an orange or red handle, but it can also be black, among other colors. There will generally be a small oil can symbol on the end of the stick, but that’s not always the case. If you’re having trouble locating your dipstick, consult your owner’s manual.

When you’ve found the dipstick, pull it out. At this point, you’ll get a good look at your oil’s color, but the level reading won’t be accurate. There’s no need to wear gloves, but they can be helpful if you want to keep your hands clean.

3. Wipe And Reinsert The Dipstick

Using your shop towel or rag, wipe the oil off the dipstick. Make sure you’re only leaving bare metal, so there’s no oil left that could mess up your reading. Now, reinsert the dipstick, and ensure it is all the way inserted.

4. Take Your Reading

Once you’ve inserted the dipstick, wait a few seconds, take it back out again, and look for the oil level. A dipstick will typically have markings on both sides to designate a “healthy” oil range. If the oil line is above these markings, it’s too high. If it’s below the markings, your oil level is low.

As you check the level, examine the oil’s physical qualities. Clean oil is a translucent amber, and it flows easily. Dirty oil is black or gritty and will tend to be more viscous. If your oil is a dark black color, an oil change is definitely in order.

5. Follow Up If Necessary

Clean your dipstick off again, and put it back into the engine. If you had to unscrew it, screw it down again before closing the hood.

Now all you have to do is follow up. If your oil is dirty, you’ll need to schedule an oil change or perform it yourself. If your engine oil is low, simply top it off to the appropriate level. You may also need a new oil filter.

What If I Don’t Have A Dipstick?

It’s worth noting that some newer vehicles don’t have any oil dipsticks. Instead, an electric sensor inside the oil pan monitors the level. This information is usually not displayed on the standard dashboard or center console, often buried in a sub-menu in the operating system. The easiest way to find it is to check your manual, which should show you how to bring up the appropriate display.

How To Add Motor Oil

The oil cap is typically located on top of the engine and will display an oil can symbol. You’ll need to remove the cap to the oil filler to add engine oil. Add around half a quart at a time, and use a funnel to help avoid spilling. When filling the oil, remember that too much can be just as bad as too little.

After adding some oil, wait about one minute for it to fully settle, then check your dipstick. If the level is still low, add the rest of your quart. In most cases, you won’t need more than that. But if you do, be sure to add it slowly to avoid accidentally using too much.

Once your oil is at the appropriate level, screw the oil cap back into place. Make a quick check for any spills, and wipe up if necessary. Close the hood, and you’re ready to go.

As for the specific grade of oil, use whatever engine oil grade your owner’s manual recommends. In most cases, this will be either 5W-30 or 10W-40, but there are other possibilities. Some cars, particularly performance cars, require special synthetic oils, while others will work fine with any oil of the correct grade.

You should check your oil monthly to keep your engine in the best condition. And regardless of how your oil looks, it’s wise to stick to your manufacturer’s recommendations regarding oil filter changes. The last thing you want is for a failed filter to release a bunch of debris into your oil.

Summary

Regular oil checks are crucial to your engine’s overall health and longevity. By keeping an eye on your oil, you can ensure that it’s always topped off and clean. Checking your oil is very easy, even if you’re not mechanically inclined, so it's one of the few car maintenance tasks that just about anyone can perform.

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