How to Check Car Oil

The first step for any driver when checking their vehicle’s oil level and condition is to consult their owner’s manual, just like rotating your own tires. This is because some newer vehicles use electronic oil monitors and not dipsticks. If your car, van, truck, or SUV uses the latter, the process is simple:

• Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground and that the engine has cooled off.
• Find the dipstick under your hood.
• Once it’s out, wipe any oil from the end of the dipstick.
• Put the dipstick back in, then pull it out and look at both sides to see where the level is.

If you notice the oil level between the two marks or cross hatched area on the dipstick, you’re where you need to be. If it isn’t, you’ll need to add more.

Always use recommended-grade oil as listed in your owner’s manual. Usually, if you need to add more oil, you’ll need to remove the oil filler cap before putting more in your engine.