Checking your car’s engine oil level is absolutely essential – and the good news is anyone can do it quickly and easily.
However, if you neglect your duty, the engine can suffer major faults and you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t do something about it sooner while waiting to be rescued at the side of the road.
A spokeswoman for the AA said: ‘Modern cars use very little engine oil, but that’s not a reason for complacency. Oil loss can occur for a variety of reasons and not checking your car’s oil level can potentially be a disastrous and expensive mistake.’
So, to prevent disaster, here are the key steps for checking your car’s engine oil level.
1. Park on a level surface
In order to get an accurate oil level reading, you should park your car on a level surface. If the vehicle is parked on a slope, the oil will run to one side of the sump, which is unsuitable for measurement.
2. Make sure the engine is cool
When checking your car’s oil level, you need the engine to be cool. You should either carry out the check before starting the car or at least 10 minutes after switching the engine off. If the engine is warm, not all of the oil will have returned to the sump and you will get an inaccurate reading.
3. Open the bonnet
To check the oil level, you need to get under the bonnet. Look for a release latch inside the car’s cabin – usually in the driver’s footwell. Then go round to the front of the bonnet and put your hand into the open gap. There will be a lever, which you will need to push to one side. If it’s not obvious, check your car’s handbook. You will then be able to lift the bonnet and secure it in place with the bonnet support rod.
4. Locate the dipstick
Now that you’re looking at your car’s engine bay, you’ll need to find the oil dipstick. You’re looking for a ring-shaped piece of plastic on top of a thin vertical pipe. The ring-shaped part on top of the stick is usually a bright shade of yellow or orange.
If your car is front-wheel drive, the dipstick will be near the front of the engine. If your car is rear-wheel drive, the dipstick will be near the rear of the engine. If you cannot find the dipstick, look in your car’s handbook for its location.
5. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it
Once you have located the dipstick, put your index finger through the hole and grip it. Firmly pull the dipstick out of the pipe and hold it level. Take a clean rag (never paper towel) and wipe down the dipstick, cleaning the oil off in the process.
6. Put the dipstick back in the pipe
Having wiped down the dipstick, put it back into the pipe, making sure it goes in the same way round as before. This is because the pipe has a bend in it, and the dipstick is only designed to bend around it one way. If it gets stuck as it’s going in, turn it around and try again.
7. Pull out the dipstick again
As before, remove the dipstick from the pipe and hold it level. Look at the end of the dipstick and see where the oil film comes up to. There will be some form of markings to check the oil level against, such as L and H (low and high), Min and Max (minimum and maximum) or some crosshatching.
8. What to look for
The top of the oil streak should be between the two marks or within the crosshatching. If not, you will need to add oil. It’s also worth checking the colour of the oil, which should be black or brown. If it appears to be an unusually light colour, coolant may be leaking into the engine. The presence of metal particles would indicate engine damage. In either case, you should have the car towed to a mechanic’s workshop.
9. Topping up
If you do need to top the engine up with oil, check your handbook for the correct oil needed – they differ so make sure you do. Slowly pour it in the engine oil filler cap (this is different to the dipstick) and keep checking the oil level at regular intervals. Try 100ml at a time and leave time for it to sink to the sump.
10. Job done
If the level and colour are correct, and all appears to be in order, then you have no need to worry. Put the dipstick back in the pipe as before and close the bonnet – you’re good to go!