How to Check and Top Up Your Car's Oil

Maintaining your vehicle is essential to ensure its longevity and performance. One essential check you should be regularly doing is checking and topping up your engine oil. Engine oil plays a vital role in lubricating the internal components of your engine, preventing friction as well as heat buildup. In this article, we will walk you through how to check and top up your car's oil, should you be doing it on your own.

Gather the necessary tools and materials:

Before you start, make sure you have the following items on hand:

• Car’s Owner's Manual: Where you will find all the information about your vehicle, including the type of oil it requires.
• Cloth / Kitchen Roll: You'll need these to wipe the dipstick and clean any spillage.
• Funnel: This can help you pour oil into the engine without making a mess.
• Engine Oil: Make sure to use the type and grade of oil recommended in your car’s manual.

Park on a level surface and let the engine cool down:

Ensure your car is parked on a level surface and that your engine has cooled down to obtain an accurate oil level reading. This will prevent the oil from pooling to one side of the oil pan, giving you a more reliable measurement.

Locate the dipstick:

Open your car’s bonnet and locate the oil dipstick. It usually has a loop or handle for easy identification.

Pull out the dipstick and wipe it:

Remove the dipstick from the engine, wipe it, and reinsert it back in the dipstick tube.

Take out the dipstick again and check the oil level:

Pull out the dipstick again and examine the oil level. There are usually indicators on the dipstick, showing the right oil level range. If the oil level is below the minimum mark, you'll need to top it up.

Top up the oil if needed:

If the oil level is low, use a funnel to pour a small amount of the recommended oil into the oil filler cap. Allow a minute for the oil to settle, then recheck the level using the dipstick. Repeat this process until the oil level is within the recommended range.

Secure the oil cap and close the bonnet:

Once you've topped up the oil to the correct level, replace the oil filler cap and close your car’s bonnet.

Regularly checking and topping up your car's oil is a simple yet important aspect of maintenance that can significantly contribute to the longevity and efficiency of your vehicle. By following these easy steps and consulting your owner's manual for specific recommendations, you can ensure that your car's engine stays well-lubricated and performs at its best.

We hope that this article has helped you with this check, however, should you have any further questions, or would prefer us to change your engine oil, please don’t hesitate to contact us and our friendly team will be very happy to help.

Tags: *car_engine_oil *car_ownership *engine_oil *car_checks