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 bonnet release lever under the dashboard.

4. Walk around the front of the car, reach under the bonnet, find the latch and squeeze it. As you squeeze the latch, open the bonnet.

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 coloured.

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 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.

How Often Should I Check the Oil?
You should perform several checks as part of your weekly routine. Checking your oil levels and topping up when necessary should be near the top of that list. If you notice any oil on the floor when you’ve been parked up, or any other problems that you think might be related to oil levels, check it then too.

How Long Does it Take?
It shouldn't take you any more than 10 minutes.

What Kind of Oil Should I be Using?
There are lots of different types of oil and they are used for different purposes. Before you go out to buy it, refer to your owner's manual and make sure that you know what you should be looking for. The thickness of motor oil is referred to as the viscosity and is shown on the container as an SAE rating.

A quick guide to the different grades of oil.