Before you can learn how to check the oil level in your car, it’s a good idea to leaf through your owner’s manual. You might find that you have an electronic oil monitor that doesn’t use a dipstick, or your car might have a more traditional configuration. While electronic oil monitors will check your oil level automatically, a car with a dipstick should be checked manually. Here’s how you do it:
Park your car on level ground and switch off the engine. The engine should be cold when you check your oil.
Pop the hood and locate the dipstick. Your owner’s manual will tell you where to look if you haven’t checked before.
Pull the dipstick from the engine and wipe the oil off of it with a clean rag.
Place the dipstick back in its tube and pull it back out.
Look at where the oil level falls on the dipstick. If it falls between a cross-hatched area or within the proper oil level lines, your job is done.
If your oil level is low, you’ll need to add more. Open the oil cap, add the proper amount of oil with a funnel, and replace the cap.