If you think checking your oil looks like the image up above, you’re not alone. The truth is, it’s easy to check your car’s engine oil: you just need to pop the hood and find the dipstick.
Not sure how? Riverside Autoplex of Poteau is here to help with an easy step-by-step process of how to check your engine oil.
Why Should I Check My Car’s Oil?
Engine oil protects and lubricates all of your engine’s moving parts, ensuring your engine runs smoothly every day. Checking your oil ensures your car has enough oil and that the oil isn’t dirty or circulating anything that might damage your engine.
How to Check Your Oil: Step by Step
Checking your oil is simple. Here is an easy step-by-step guide:
- Get your car parked on level ground.
- Turn the engine off. Let your engine cool to avoid the risk of burns.
- Pop open your hood to find your oil dipstick. Sometimes it’s yellow or orange, but it might be black and labeled with “oil” or an oil can.
- Pull the dipstick out of the tube.
- With a clean rag or paper towel, wipe any oil off the end of the dipstick.
- Re-insert the dipstick. Make sure it goes all the way back into its tube.
- Immediately take out the dipstick again.
- Holding the dipstick horizontally, inspect both sides to see where the oil level falls.
Reading Your Dipstick
Most dipsticks feature two lines, often with hash marks between them.
- Ideally, the oil level should be at or near the dipstick’s highest indicator line. This offers the best protection for your engine.
- Anywhere above the lowest line is OK, but if the oil line isn’t at the highest point, you might want to top off your engine oil.
- Your oil should be semitransparent, but it shouldn’t have anything in it. If you see particles or metal shavings, you should get that car to a pro ASAP.
What if I Don’t Have a Dipstick?
If you have an electric car, you don’t need to worry about engine oil.
There are some gas-powered cars around Eufaula or Sallisaw that also don’t have dipsticks. Instead, they have electric oil monitors.
- It’s still a good idea to check your oil on these vehicles, but you’ll want to check your owner’s manual for details, as it can vary from car to car.
- Usually it’s as simple as making a few taps on your infotainment system or navigating dashboard menus with your steering wheel controls.
Got Questions? Contact Riverside Autoplex of Poteau
If your oil level is low, you might find yourself wondering if you should top it off with synthetic, semi-synthetic, or regular motor oil. While that might be a bandaid, your engine shouldn’t be burning oil, and you should have a pro take a look if your oil is low.
Contact Riverside Autoplex of Poteau today if you’ve got questions about your oil or to schedule an oil change near Fort Smith, AR.
