How to Check Car Oil

To ensure you’re driving around Omaha safely and your vehicle is performing properly, you will need to check that your car has the right amount of oil. Essentially, car oil protects all of the engine’s internal moving parts. Whether you don’t know how to check car oil or need a refresher, let the service team at Sid Dillon Buick of Lincoln walk you through the process below.

How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

Before we get into it, you should find out if your vehicle has a traditional dipstick, as some newer vehicles have electronic oil monitors that don’t use them. You can do so by checking your owner’s manual for the automaker’s recommendations. If you’re checking the oil manually, simply follow these steps:

1. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground and that the engine is turned off and cold.
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe any oil from the end of it.
4. Re-insert the dipstick back into its tube, then pull it out and look at both sides to see where the level is.

Dipsticks always have some way of indicating the proper oil level. If the top of your oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area, the level is good. If it isn’t, then you’ll need to add more oil.

If you need to add more oil, make sure that you’re buying the grade recommended in the owner’s manual. Once you have the oil ready, remove the oil filler cap and then add oil a little at a time until the dipstick indicates you’ve reached the proper level.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

The right oil level affects your vehicle’s performance severely. Generally, oil changes are recommended at least twice yearly, though it could be more or less often depending on the model and how it’s driven. Given how quickly oil changes are usually, there’s no reason why you should risk the consequences of not completing them on time.

As for oil checks, they should be performed at least once a month. With the checks, you can ensure there are no leaks and there is enough oil for your car to travel around Beatrice.

Discover More Car Care Tips from Sid Dillon Buick of Lincoln

As a driver, there’s a lot to know about and to do to continue driving around Hickman safe and sound. It can get overwhelming, but Sid Dillon Buick of Lincoln is in your corner. From simple maintenance tips to recommended schedules for particular Buick models, you can learn more through our service guides online!