Checking Your Engine Oil
*VERY EASY*
The most important fluid in your vehicle is the engine oil. Without oil, your internal engine parts will seize (melt together from intense heat). With dirty oil, your engine will be ruined eventually too. Therefore, it is very critical to always know the level and condition of the oil in your engine. You should check the engine oil level every two weeks using the following procedure:
- Park the vehicle on level ground in a well-ventilated area with the engine OFF, the parking brake engaged, and the transmission in PARK (for automatic) or REVERSE (for manual). If the engine has been run recently, let it cool for at least five minutes to allow most of the oil to drain back into the oil pan. For the most accurate reading, the oil level should be checked after car has been permitted to set overnight.
- Raise the hood. Locate the engine oil dipstick using your owner's manual. It usually has a looped handgrip and is located on one side of the engine. Remove the engine oil dipstick and wipe it on a clean rag. Insert the dipstick again into the dipstick tube and firmly seat it against the top of the tube. Remove the dipstick and hold it horizontally or upright to read, but not upside down (this may permit oil to drip towards the FULL mark, giving a false reading). Repeat a second time for confirmation. If the oil is clean, a bright light may be needed for an accurate reading against the dipstick markings.
- The oil level should be in the cross-hatched area between the "ADD"
or "LOW" mark and the "FULL" mark.
You should not let the level fall below the "ADD" or "LOW" mark or the engine may overheat or seize. Likewise, the level should not greatly exceed the "FULL" mark or the engine may burn oil. Note that the oil level may exceed the full mark immediately after an oil change since it is not possible to drain 100% of the oil from the engine prior to the change. (If excess oil must be removed from the engine, loosen the oil pan drain plug a little to capture some of the oil. Be sure to tighten it again though.) - Read the condition of the oil as well. If the oil is completely black and the markings underneath it cannot be read, the oil must be changed. If the oil contains solid clumps (sludge), the sludge must be removed. In fact, the oil may need to be changed even if it appears clean. See Time vs. Mileage.
- Add enough additional clean oil, as necessary and in small amounts, through the oil filler neck or valve cover opening in order to maintain the level at FULL. Recheck your oil level a few minutes after each addition to be certain the oil pan is not overfilled. The oil dipstick is calibrated so that only one quart of oil is needed to raise the level from ADD to FULL. When adding oil, use a clean, large, wide-mouthed funnel to avoid oil backup in the funnel and spilling it on other components of the engine. Oil will soften rubber parts such as hoses or electrical wires. It also smells and smokes when in contact with a hot surface. Firmly tighten the filler cap on the valve cover to prevent escape of any oil. Close the hood.
You should keep a record of the quantity of additional oil used and the vehicle's mileage at which it was added. Divide the mileage between oil additions by the amount of oil added to determine your engine's oil mileage. For example, if you drove 2,500 miles and needed to add 1/4 (0.25) quart to replaced lost oil, the oil mileage would be:
2,500 miles รท (0.25 qt.) = 10,000 miles per quart
High oil mileage rates (for example, 10,000 miles or more per quart) are a sign that the engine has no significantly worn parts or leaks. A low oil mileage rate (for example, 1,000 miles per quart) means major parts are worn or the oil is leaking. In either case, the engine needs service. Use your oil mileage to determine if your car needs service.
