How to check your car’s engine oil level | AUTODOC tips, by autodoc.co.uk on YouTube. 1 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Park the car on a flat, even surface. If the engine has just run, wait a few minutes so the oil drains back into the sump.
Open the bonnet and find the oil dipstick. It usually has a coloured loop or handle and sits near the front of the engine.
Take a clean, light-coloured cloth. A light colour makes it easier to see the oil level and its condition.
Pull the dipstick out and wipe it dry with the cloth. This clears old oil so the next reading is accurate.
Push the clean dipstick all the way back in, then pull it out again. Read the level against the marks near the tip.
Check the level sits between the minimum and maximum marks. If it is near or below minimum, top up with the oil grade listed in your handbook.
Wipe the dipstick clean and push it fully back in. Close the bonnet firmly.
Tips and common mistakes
Check the oil at least every 2,000 km rather than waiting for the dashboard oil light.
Do not overfill: too much oil can damage the engine, so add small amounts and recheck.
A milky or very dark, gritty reading can signal a problem, so have a garage look at it.
Questions
Should the engine be warm or cold when I check the oil?
Either works if you wait a few minutes after switching off, so the oil settles in the sump. A cold engine on level ground gives the most consistent reading.
What if the level is below the minimum mark?
Top up with the oil grade your handbook specifies, adding a little at a time and rechecking with the dipstick. Do not drive far with the level below minimum.
My car has no dipstick. How do I check the oil?
Many modern cars use an electronic oil level sensor shown on the dashboard or infotainment screen. Check the menu with the engine running as your handbook describes.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
