Quick Facts About Checking Engine Oil
- Check your engine oil at least once a month — more often if your vehicle burns or leaks oil.
- Park on level ground, remove and wipe the dipstick, reinsert it, remove it again, and check the oil level.
- If the oil level is low, add the manufacturer-recommended oil a little at a time. Don’t overfill.
Checking your engine oil takes only a few minutes and can help prevent expensive engine damage. Even newer vehicles can consume oil between scheduled oil changes, so it’s important to check the level regularly. Here’s how to do it.
How to Check Your Engine Oil in 5 Steps
Before starting, park on level ground and consult your owner’s manual to determine whether to check the oil with the engine warm or cold. Have a clean rag or paper towel handy.
- Locate the dipstick: Open the hood and look for a yellow or orange handle, usually near the engine. Your owner’s manual can help you find it.
- Pull and wipe the dipstick: Pull it out and wipe off the oil with a clean rag. Look for two markings near the tip indicating the minimum and maximum oil levels. Some dipsticks use holes or a crosshatched area instead of lines.
- Reinsert the dipstick: Push it all the way back into its tube to ensure an accurate reading.
- Check the oil level: Pull the dipstick out again and look at where the oil reaches. The oil level should fall between the minimum and maximum marks.
- Add oil if needed: If the level is at or below the minimum mark, add the manufacturer-recommended oil in small amounts through the oil-fill opening. Wait a few minutes and recheck the level. Don’t overfill.
If the dipstick shows little or no oil, don’t assume adding a quart will solve the problem. Check the owner’s manual and investigate why the level is so low before driving.
How Often Should You Check Your Engine Oil?
Gary Hardesty, Kelley Blue Book’s in-house service and maintenance expert, recommends checking your engine oil at least once every 30 days.
Check more frequently if your vehicle has high mileage, burns oil, or has a known leak. It’s also wise to check before a long road trip.
Engine oil lubricates moving parts, reduces friction, and helps regulate engine temperature. Too little oil can cause serious damage, even if your vehicle isn’t due for an oil change.
RELATED: How Often Should I Change My Oil?
Tips for Checking Your Engine Oil
- Follow the owner’s manual: Some manufacturers specify checking with a warm engine, while others recommend a cold engine or a particular waiting period after shutting it off.
- Don’t overfill: Too much oil can damage your engine. Add small amounts and recheck the level.
- Use the correct oil: Check the owner’s manual for the required viscosity (often called weight) and specifications.
- Don’t judge oil solely by color: Engine oil naturally darkens with use, but dark oil doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time for a change.
- Watch for warning lights: An oil-pressure warning light can indicate dangerously low oil pressure, not simply a low oil level. If it illuminates while driving, stop safely and shut off the engine. Don’t continue driving until the cause is addressed.
MORE: Top 10 Car Care Tips
What if Your Car Doesn’t Have an Oil Dipstick?
Some newer vehicles use electronic oil-level sensors instead of traditional dipsticks. The oil level is displayed through the instrument cluster or infotainment screen.
Consult your owner’s manual for instructions. Depending on the vehicle, the engine may need to be warm, running, or turned off for a specified period before the system provides a reading.
Oil level and oil life are different. An oil-life monitor estimates when your next oil change is due. It doesn’t tell you how much oil is in the engine.
Fully electric vehicles don’t need engine oil checks. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids have gas engines and still require them.
Visit our Car Maintenance Information Center for expert-backed articles to help you make smart maintenance decisions with confidence.
Editor’s Note: We have updated this article since its initial publication.
