How To Check Your Vehicle's Oil Level

It's your friendly neighborhood super hero! Spider-Man For Dummies is out now! Get your copy today. Dummies AI Browse Book & Article Categories

Book & Article Categories

closeTechnologyAcademics & The ArtsHome, Auto, & HobbiesBody, Mind, & SpiritBusiness, Careers, & MoneyCollections

Collections

Explore all collectionscloseBYOB (Be Your Own Boss)Be a Rad DadCareer ShiftingContemplating the CosmosFor Those Seeking Peace of MindFor the Aspiring AficionadoFor the Budding Cannabis EnthusiastFor the College BoundFor the Exam-Season CrammerFor the Game Day PrepperCustom Solutions

• Book & Article Categories
• Collections
• Custom Solutions
• Dummies AI

• Main Menu

• Book & Article Categories

• Technology
• Academics & The Arts
• Home, Auto, & Hobbies
• Body, Mind, & Spirit
• Business, Careers, & Money
• Dummies AI

• Main Menu

• Book & Article Categories

• Technology
• Academics & The Arts
• Home, Auto, & Hobbies
• Body, Mind, & Spirit
• Business, Careers, & Money
• Dummies AI

• Main Menu

• Collections

  Explore all collections

• BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)
• Be a Rad Dad
• Career Shifting
• Contemplating the Cosmos
• For Those Seeking Peace of Mind
• For the Aspiring Aficionado
• For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast
• For the College Bound
• For the Exam-Season Crammer
• For the Game Day Prepper
• Dummies AI

HomeHome, Auto, & Hobbies ArticlesAutomotive ArticlesCar Repair & Maintenance ArticlesGeneral Car Repair & Maintenance ArticlesHow to Check Your Vehicle's Oil LevelByDeanna Sclar Updated2021-10-06 15:30:29From the bookAuto Repair For DummiesShare

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Download E-BookAuto Repair For Dummies Explore Book Auto Repair For Dummies Explore BookBuy NowBuy on AmazonBuy on WileySubscribe on PerlegoDownload E-BookAuto Repair For DummiesExplore Book Auto Repair For DummiesExplore BookBuy NowBuy on AmazonBuy on WileySubscribe on PerlegoYou should check your car's oil at least once a month to make sure that there’s enough oil and that it isn’t contaminated. Oil reduces the friction in your engine and keeps it running smoothly. When you check your oil, if it is dirty or smells of gasoline, it's time for your oil to be changed.

You should also check the levels using the oil dipstick ― if you’re oil is clean but only reaches the “Add” part of the dipstick, you’ll need to add more oil.

© vladacanon / iStockphoto.com

Some European vehicles don’t have an oil dipstick. If you can’t find one on your vehicle, check the owner’s manual for how to check your oil.

The process for how to check your oil is simple and involves using the dip stick to see levels and test quality. To find out whether your vehicle needs oil, follow these steps:

1. Pull out the dip stick and wipe it off on a clean, lint-free rag.

   Be sure the engine is cold (or has been off for at least ten minutes) before you check the oil. The location of the oil dipstick depends on whether your vehicle has an in-line engine (rear-wheel drive) as shown here.

   

   If you have a transverse engine (front-wheel drive) your dipstick should be located near the front of the engine, as shown here.

   

2. Insert the stick back into the pipe.

   If the dipstick gets stuck on the way in, turn it around. The pipe it fits into is curved, and the metal stick bends naturally in the direction of the curve if you put it back in the way it came out.

3. Pull the dipstick out again and look at the film of oil on the end of the stick.

   Note how high the oil film reaches on the dipstick and the condition of the oil, and add or change the oil as needed.

   You don't add oil into the tiny tube that the dipstick sits in; that's just asking for messy frustration. Look for a screw-off cap on top of the largest part of the engine. It could be blank or it could be labeled "Oil Cap" or something similar, and it might even indicate which grade of oil you ought to be using in your car. Unscrew that cap and add oil as needed.

   

4. Put the dipstick back into the pipe. You’re done!

Oil turns black pretty quickly, but that doesn’t affect the quality. Rub a little between your thumb and index finger, and if it leaves a dirty smudge, it probably needs to be changed.

If your oil looks clean enough but only reaches the “Add” level on the dipstick, you need to add oil. You can buy oil the next time you fill up with gas at the service station or you can find it at auto supply stores, supermarkets, discount stores, and large drugstores.

See also How to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid and Auto Repair Safety Rules.

About This Article

This article is from the book: 

Auto Repair For Dummies

About the book author:

Deanna Sclar is an acclaimed auto repair expert. She has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including NBC's Today show and the NBCNightly News. Sclar lectures internationally on the ecological impact of vehicles and is active in promoting residential solar energy programs. Sclar is also the author of Buying a Car For Dummies.

This article can be found in the category: 

General Car Repair & MaintenanceGet a Subscription