How to Check Car Oil

As the lifeblood of your vehicle, engine oil serves an incredibly important role in your commute from Lincoln to Columbus. Oil works to lubricate all of the moving parts under the hood of your car, so you don’t end up with warped or damaged components. If you don’t change your oil, eventually, your vehicle will overheat and break down. To avoid an untimely pit stop, you’ll want to check your oil on a regular basis. When you learn how to check the oil level in your car, you can keep an eye out for the warning signs that your car needs an oil change. Review our service tips below to keep your vehicle in good working order!

Learn How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

If you drive a newer vehicle, you likely won’t ever need to learn how to check car oil since they come equipped with electronic oil monitors. With that in mind, you’ll want to check your owner’s manual to see if you can check your oil the old-fashioned way. If you can, follow these steps to learn how to check the oil level in your car:

1. Park your vehicle on level ground, and turn off the engine. Give it time to cool off.
2. Pop the hood of your vehicle using the release found in the cabin of your vehicle. Locate the dipstick.
3. Remove the dipstick, and clean the end of it to remove any oil.
4. Re-insert the dipstick, and remove it to get a reading of the oil volume.
5. If the oil is within the hash marks, you have enough. If the oil streak falls below the indicated areas, you’ll need to add more oil.
6. Slowly add a few ounces of oil. Be sure to review your owner’s manual to be sure you’re using the correct oil grade.
7. Once your oil reading reaches a sufficient level, you’re good to go!

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Since oil changes are such simple tasks, their importance is often overlooked. In most cases, you’ll want to have an oil change performed twice a year, depending on the model you drive and other factors. However, you’ll want to check your oil level roughly once a month. This gives you a chance to check the volume and quality of your oil. If you notice that it’s gotten low, the viscosity is off, or you spot metal flakes, it’s time for an oil change. Beyond that, if the hood of your car is hot to the touch, you likely have an oil leak, and your vehicle is overheating. If that happens, make your way to our Sid Dillon Buick GMC Fremont service center right away.

Rely on Sid Dillon Buick GMC Fremont for Car Care

Now that you know how to check car oil, you can keep your vehicle in tip-top shape! If you’re curious about the price of an oil change, explore our service coupons before you book an appointment with our expert team in Fremont. We’re proud to offer affordable and reliable car care to all. Visit us near Omaha for your service needs!