How to Check Your Oil

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How to Check Your Oil

Equipment Needed

• Owner’s manual
• Rag
• Funnel
• Motor oil

7 Steps to Check Your Oil

1. Check the owner’s manual
   Make sure you know what type of oil your car needs and how often you need to schedule an oil
   change. This is usually every 3000 miles or 3 months.




2. Turn off your engine and open the hood of your car
   Check your oil when the engine is warm because oil will expand when it’s hot and contract when it’s
   cold.




3. Check the dipstick
   Your dipstick is an instrument that measures the oil in your car. It’s a long piece of metal that sticks
   out with a loop on it. The oil dipstick is usually in front of the engine on the left-hand side. It’s usually
   labeled oil or has an indicator. Just pull on the loop to get the dipstick out and wipe the dipstick clean,
   and then put the dipstick back, all the way in. Pull it back out again.
   Look at the end of the dipstick. The oil should be halfway between the textured area or the line
   marked “full.” If the oil is lower than that, you likely need more oil.




4. Check the oil
   Check where the oil is and the color. Clean oil should be amber. Feel the oil. If it feels gritty, it needs
   to be changed. If the oil is below the “full” line but feels clean, you can add some new oil.




5. Let the engine cool and add new oil
   Once the engine is cooled, you will need a funnel and a bottle of motor oil to add new oil. If you
   don’t have time to wait for the engine to cool, use a rag, work glove or some protective covering for
   your hand to unscrew the oil filler cap, which is labeled oil. If you touch the cap with your bare hands
   while the engine is still hot, you could burn yourself.




6. Use a funnel to pour oil
   Don’t put in too much oil or else you’ll have to drain the oil pan and start all over.




7. Check the oil level again
   Use the dipstick to make sure the oil level is full. Remember to put the dipstick back and screw the
   cap back on.

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