How to Check the Car Oil
Checking the oil level in your vehicle on a regular basis is considered to be routine maintenance. Operating a car with insufficient oil levels can cause major damage that can lead to major car repair(s). Checking the oil levels in between oil changes or routine maintenance checks is important. Following the five easy steps to check oil level can save you money on car repairs in the long run.
What you will need:
1. Absorbent paper towels
2. A quart of the same grade oil that is currently in you engine(hopefully not more)
3. Your owner’s manual
4. An oil funnel
5. A flat surface like a driveway
Step 1
Find out the exact grade of oil that your engine uses for optimum performance. 5W-30. 10W-30, 10W-40 are a few of the different grades of oil. You can find this information by either reading your owner’s manual or looking at the last receipt you received after an oil change.
Step 2
Make sure that your car engine is cool. Some manuals will direct you to start the engine so it will reach operating temperature then turn off the engine to allow the oil to drain back into the oil pan. More than likely, you will not get an accurate oil gauge if your car is too hot; and working around a hot engine can be dangerous.
Step 3
Look through your car’s manual to locate a diagram indicating where the dipstick is located. Also, you might need to look in the manual to help you locate your hood release button or bar.
Step 4
Remove the dip stick from the oil pan. Wipe it clean with the paper towels. Look at it very closely so that you can see the letters H (for High) and L (for Low) near the bottom of the stick. Reinsert the dipstick all the way.
Step 5
Pull it out again, being sure not to turn it on its side or upside down. Check your oil level. If the oil is below the L, remove the oil filler cap and place the funnel in the top of it. Pour the recommended amount of oil into the funnel, being sure not to overfill. Pour slowly as oil is thick and won’t speed right through the funnel. Avoid getting oil on any other part of the engine because when the engine heats up it will burn and smell like your engine is burning oil. If your oil is above the H, you have too much oil in your vehicle. If will burn off eventually, so you probably don’t need to take any action. Remove the funnel and replace the oil filler cap. You should be ready to go.
Checking the oil on a regular basis is easy and fast, and can save you money on unnecessary car repairs. Just remember that damages caused by insufficient oil levels are not generally covered under a car’s warranty.
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