How to Check Your Car’s Oil

If you’re like a lot of our Whitewater customers, you want to keep your car running for years to come. That means you want to do your best to keep it well-maintained. Knowing how to check your car’s oil is an important part of that maintenance. Our helpful service team wants to do what they can to keep your vehicle running in top shape, as well. So, we’ve put together the handy guide below on how to check the oil level in your car.

How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

It’s a snap to pop the hood and check the oil level in your car. Some of our Orfordville drivers like to check their oil whenever they get gas or every other time they get gas. Here’s how to check your car’s oil:

• Park your car where it is flat and level
• Make sure the engine is turned off and cool.
• Find the oil dipstick. Most oil dipsticks have a yellow handle shaped like a circle or hook.
• Pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean.
• Put the dipstick back in, then pull it back out.
• Check the oil level.
• If the oil level is below the hash marks, put a quart of oil in your car.

But How Do I Read the Dipstick?

Of course, you don’t know how to check your car’s oil if you don’t know how to read the dipstick. 

• Look for the cross-hatched area near the bottom of the dipstick (this is usually just on one side)
• Oil should reach the dipstick far enough to be inside that cross-hatched area.
• If the oil falls short of that area, put a quart in, then recheck it.
• Most cars will not require oil between oil changes. So, if you have to put oil in your engine multiple times before your next oil change, you should schedule an appointment for service.

Trust Your Car to the Experts at Drive Burtness of Orfordville

Speaking of oil changes, when is your car due for its next one? Our service experts will be happy to help you with that. And you can save on the cost when you take advantage of our service specials. We’re just a short drive away from Janesville, so drop by or contact us today! In the meantime, check out our guide to checking your engine light on your RAM 1500 vehicle!