How to Check Car Oil

Taking care of your vehicle’s oil is vitally important to the health of its engine. It also keeps you safer on Danville roads. Learn all about how to check car oil and how to check the oil level in your car from the service team at Vermilion Chevrolet! Contact us if you have any questions!

Learn How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

It’s easy to learn how to check the oil level in your car. Some newer vehicles even have electronic oil monitors instead of a traditional dipstick. To start, check your owner’s manual for the automaker’s recommendation for how to check car oil in their models. Then, most Champaign drivers can just follow these steps:

1. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground and that the engine is turned off and cold.
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe any oil from the end of it.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way back into its tube, then pull it out and look at both sides to see where the level is.

There will be a set of markings on your dipstick that indicate the appropriate oil level. You want the top of the oil streak to be between those two marks, or within a cross-hatched area. If it isn’t, then your oil is too low, and you should top it off. Be sure to use the oil recommended in your owner’s manual. Then:

1. Remove the oil filler cap
2. Add oil a little at a time
3. Keep checking the dipstick
4. Stop once you’ve reached an appropriate level

Why Should You Check Your Car’s Oil?

Checking your oil regularly can help you catch issues before they turn into big problems. Always be mindful of if your oil is a strange color or if it has small flecks of metal in it. If you notice either problem, then schedule service with Vermilion Chevrolet so that a certified mechanic can check what might be wrong.

Your oil is also what keeps your vehicle’s engine from overheating. An overheating engine can wreck your vehicle, and can be quite dangerous if it happens during a journey around Savoy. Taking proper care of your oil can help prevent overheating.

The Vermilion Chevrolet Service Team Can Change Your Oil

If you don’t remember when you last had your oil changed, or it’s about time for you to get your next one, get your oil changed with us in Tilton. Our service specials and expert advice can get you top-of-the-line service at a great price.