How to Check Car Oil

Your vehicle’s motor oil is what allows it to continue cruising healthily through Peachtree City, so it’s important to check your car’s oil level regularly. This will give you the peace of mind that your engine’s internal moving parts are in good condition. Learn more about how to check car oil, and feel free to reach out to our experienced service department for more information on oil changes, the Lexus maintenance schedule, and more!

How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

Depending on what kind of vehicle you drive, you may find an electric oil monitor or a more traditional dipstick. If you drive a new vehicle, chances are that your vehicle will utilize the electric option. However, it’s important to start the process of learning how to check your car oil by consulting your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations.

If you happen to be checking the oil level in your car manually, you’ll want to take the following steps:

• Put your vehicle in park on level ground and ensure that your engine is turned off (you’ll also want to give your engine the chance to cool).
• Next, open your vehicle’s hood and locate the dipstick.
• Pull out the dipstick. Be sure to wipe any oil from its end before proceeding.
• After this step, re-insert the dipstick completely. Pull it out once more and take a look at both sides. This will show you where the oil level falls.

If the top of the oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area, that means your oil is at a good level. If not, you will want to add more oil! Just be sure to buy the grade of oil as recommended by your owner’s manual. To add more oil, simply remove the oil filler cap and add a small amount of oil at a time until your vehicle’s dipstick shows that you’ve reached a good level.

Why Should You Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Now that you’ve learned how to check car oil, you may be wondering why this process is so important. Oil can often be overlooked, however, the correct oil level greatly contributes to your vehicle’s performance and safety. It’s best practice to get your oil changed at least twice a year, but this will also depend on your specific vehicle and how you drive it. Between oil changes, try to check your car oil level roughly once a month. This is a great way to ensure that your vehicle can continue to safely cruise through the Fayetteville streets.

If you notice that your car’s hood is hot to the touch, or even expelling steam, you’ll want to schedule a service appointment as soon as possible. This could mean that your vehicle has an oil leak, or perhaps that the engine is overheated.

Trust Butler Lexus of South Atlanta for Lexus Service!

Whether you need help learning how to check the oil levels in your car or you’re on the hunt for a new vehicle, you can trust the experts at Butler Lexus of South Atlanta! Have any questions? Feel free to contact us at your convenience and we’d be happy to help. We hope to be your go-to Lexus service resource near Newnan!