How to check your engine oil
All cars consume a little oil, and it's a mistake to rely on warning lights alone. Checking your oil is a simple car maintenance task everybody can perform.
A guide on checking your motor oil
How to check your engine oil
While some cars consume hardly any engine oil, others can burn off or drip plenty. That's why it makes sense to check your oil level frequently between oil changes, as running with a low oil level increases stress on the engine and can seriously reduce the working life of the oil and the engine.
Some modern cars have an electronic oil sensor that warns you when your motor oil is approaching the minimum safe level. But whether your car has one or not, it's good practice to check your engine oil level manually on a regular basis, especially if you're planning a road trip. After all, sensors and dash lights can both fail without you knowing about it.
Steps to checking engine oil
- To check your engine oil level, first make sure to park your car on level ground, then wait at least 10 minutes to let the oil drain out of the engine and back into the sump.
- Raise and secure the hood, then locate the top of the dipstick, which is usually pretty easy to see and to reach. Pull it out and use a rag or paper towel to wipe the end clean. Then replace it, making sure it goes all the way in, before immediately lifting it out and holding it in a horizontal position. Near the end of the dipstick there should be two lines, sometimes with a cross-hatched area in between. Ideally, the oil level should be at or near the highest line, though anywhere above the lower line is still OK.
- If the oil level is close to or below the minimum mark, you definitely need to top off your oil right away. If the level is mid way, then topping off your engine oil level is optional. Importantly, even if you only need to add a little oil, you must make sure you add the correct type and grade of oil, which you can identify using our quick and easy Oil Selector tool.
- It's also important to know that if you have to drive somewhere to buy motor oil - our Where to Buy tool can help you find a nearby retailer or service center that stocks Castrol motor oil - that you again park on level ground and wait ten minutes for the oil to drain into the sump before you make a top-off. That's because over-filling your engine oil is just as bad for your engine as running low, and can cause serious damage, particularly to vehicles fitted with catalytic convertors.
- Once you've parked and waited, check the dipstick as before, and add a little oil at a time, cleaning and checking the dipstick after every addition, and making sure that you don't take the level above the 'maximum' mark on the dipstick.
