Checking the oil on a regular basis is an essential component of any vehicle maintenance program. Low or dirty oil can not only cause damage to your engine but it can also reduce your fuel economy and result in poor exhaust emissions. It is also something that is very easy to do and can be accomplished with only a few minutes of your time. For most vehicles it is recommended that you check your oil at least twice a month to ensure that the oil levels are correct. If you do a lot of driving, especially stop and go driving, then you may have to check your oil more often. Here is the basic step-by-step procedure for checking your oil.
Step One: Park Your Vehicle on a Level Surface
You want to get the most accurate reading when checking your oil, so make sure that your car is on a level surface. If the car is on a hill, then you may get inaccurate readings that result in you adding too much oil to the car. Adding too much oil can cause engine damage.
Step Two: Check Your Oil While the Engine is Cold
Just like parking the car on a level surface, checking the oil while the engine is cold will give you the most accurate reading. This is because the oil is in the pan and is not bound to the engine parts.
Step Three: Open the Hood
Release your car’s hood latch. In most cases this latch is located on the left hand side of the vehicles cabin. After you have released the hood latch, then walk around to the front of the car and locate the latch. Squeeze the latch while you are lifting the hood and make sure that you open it to its maximum opening position so that the hydraulic lifts engage.
Step Four: Locate the Dipstick
Somewhere near the center of the engine is the car’s oil dipstick. This is a long metal piece that looks like a wand and has a looped handle. On some models it is brightly colored and on others it is marked with the word “oil”. If you are unsure of where the oil dipstick is located, then check your owners manual.
Step Five: Remove the Dipstick
Pull the dipstick out by its loop and wipe the oil off of it with a shop rag. Push the dipstick in all the way and pull it back out. Hold it at a horizontal angle in front of you and take a look at the pointed end of the dipstick. There you will notice markings that will tell you the minimum and maximum oil levels. If the oil level is below the “full” line, then add oil a little bit at a time until you have reached the correct oil level. You may have to repeat this step several times over using small amounts of oil to make sure that you don’t put too much oil into the car. It is much easier to put oil into your car then it is to take it out. If you add too much oil, then you are going to have to have a mechanic remove the excess for you. Remember, you never want the oil level to be above the “full” line because this can cause severe damage to the engine.
To get a greater understanding of the procedure you can check out these great videos:
How To Check Your Oil
- How to Check Oil in Car?
- How to Check Engine Oil?
- How to Change the Oil in a Car?
- How to Check a Used Car?
- What Happens if You Don’t Change Your Oil?
