How to Check Oil Levels from Ardmore Toyota

Why?

Checking your vehicles oil level is the most vital single thing you can do to help extend your engine's life. In the time you take to text a message, you can check your oil by using the dipstick. Remember, oil is truly the life blood for your vehicle. Without oil, the engine wouldn't get you and your car two miles before never working again. This quick list will allow you to have and you'll have the most important item taken care of for your car's routine maintenance.

You need to park the vehicle on level ground. That's important, because you don't want all the oil going to the engine's back, while you're checking the oil level at the front. The dipstick is a metal rod that goes to deep within the engine, and allows you to check your engine's oil level. The dipstick is usually placed to be easy to reach, and should have a bright handle. Make sure to park someplace well lit, too.

Where the pumps are at a large gas station will usually have enough light. If you can, it's best to wait at least a couple of minutes to allow the oil to settle. If you don't have the time, it shouldn't stop you from checking the oil, because you can still get a pretty accurate oil level reading. Put your hood up, and make sure it's safely held up. Then pull the dipstick out of the engine block, wipe the end, which should be covered with oil, clean with a rag or towel. Put the dipstick back into the engine, and make sure it goes all the way into the opening made for it. Then pull it back out, and remember not to turn the dipstick upside down to have a look at it, because the oil will run upward, and makes the reading inaccurate.

The dipstick has two marks near the bottom of it. They can be either lines etched into it, or might be holes through the stick. The oil level is read by looking at the dipstick and seeing where the oily part stops and the dry part that you wiped off, begins. If that's between the two marks, your oil level is good. When it's below the bottom mark, you should add a quart of oil. You should not add more than a quart at a time, without driving in between and then you should take a new reading of the oil level. Overfilling the engine can end up being dangerous, and messy.

Remember This to check your Oil

• 1Always park the vehicle on level ground.
• 2Make sure where you're checking the oil level is well lit.
• 3You should never add more than one quart of oil at a time.