A great way to know when the oil in your car needs to be changed is to check it every time you fill your tank up with gas. If the oil is dirty or low, you should get your car into a service center for an oil change. However, you have to know how to check oil levels in your car so you know when it’s time for service.
Step 1: Ensure Your Car Is on Level Ground
Your car needs to be on level ground so that you get an accurate oil level reading. If your car is tilted uphill or downhill, your reading will be skewed and you won’t know if your engine needs more oil or not. When you’re on level ground, the oil in its tank will also be level, giving you a decent idea of how much oil you currently have in your car.
Step 2: Open Your Car’s Hood and Locate the Dipstick
The engine oil compartment is located under the hood of your car, near the engine. You’re looking for a loop or grip that’s attached to a long, metal strip that resembles a skewer. The loop or grip will usually be stamped “oil” or it will be inserted in a tank that is marked as “oil.” If you aren’t able to find the dipstick just by looking, grab your owner’s manual, which will show you where it’s located.
Step 3: Pull Out the Dipstick and Wipe it Clean
You need to have a clean dipstick to make sure your oil level reading is accurate. So, begin by pulling the dipstick out of the oil reservoir and wiping it clean with a cloth or towel. Typically, gas stations have towels handy right near the pumps, and they are fine to use for this purpose.
Step 4: Reinsert the Dipstick, Then Extract it Again
Put the dipstick back into the hole that leads to the oil reservoir and let it sit for a few seconds. Remove the dipstick again, check the color, and read the level.
The Appropriate Oil Level
Every oil dipstick in every vehicle is marked at the end with oil level indicators to let you know if your car needs more oil or if it’s full enough. There will be marks that indicate if your oil is full, down a quart, or down two quarts. If the oil hits either of the two lower marks, you’ll want to add oil to your car (either one or two quarts, depending on your reading).
If there is no oil on the dipstick, get your car in for service immediately, as this is an indication that your car needs at least three quarts of oil. Since cars typically only take four quarts of oil, running on one quart or less is extremely dangerous.
The Appropriate Color of Oil
Clean oil is amber in color and will appear translucent on the dipstick. If your oil is dirty, it will be dark brown or black, and you won’t be able to see through it to the dipstick. This means you need an oil change as soon as possible.
Learning to check your car’s oil is an important skill all drivers should have. Once you check it, if you need more oil or an oil change, bring your car in for service sooner rather than later. Contact Flood Mazda for an oil change appointment today.
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