How to Check Your Oil
- 1). Park the car on a level surface.
- 2). To get the most accurate reading you want to check your oil when the engine is cold.
- 3). Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard.
- 4
Walk around the front of the car, reach under the hood, find the latch and squeeze it. As you squeeze the latch, open the hood. - 5
Find the dipstick. This is a long piece of metal sticking out of the engine with a loop at one end, usually located near the center of the engine. Many times it will be labeled with the word "Oil" or brightly colored. - 6). Pull on the loop and draw the dipstick all the way out.
- 7
Wipe the oil off the dipstick with a paper towel or shop rag. - 8
Replace the clean dipstick, making sure to push it all the way in, then pull it back out and hold it horizontally in front of you. - 9
Look at the pointy end of the dipstick. If the oil on the dipstick is below the line marked "full," add a small amount of oil. Many dipsticks simply have 2 lines with a cross hatch design in between. The oil level should be halfway between these 2 lines. - 10
Add the oil by unscrewing the oil filler cap, which is about 3 inches in diameter and located on the very top of the engine. It will usually be marked with the words "Engine Oil". - 11
Check the oil level with the dipstick after adding oil. Add more if necessary. It's easier to add more oil several times, then to take oil out. - 12
Put the oil filler cap back on and secure it tightly.
