A Guide To Checking Motor Oil
When Should You Check Your Engine Oil?
Naturally, it’s essential to change your engine oil at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer. But how often should you check your oil level?
In the days before oil level sensors, many drivers checked their oil at the dipstick at least once a week. Unless you’re running an older car or an American classic, that may not be necessary these days. Having said that, it’s worth remembering that your motor oil is no less important than any other engine component. Even if you’re driving a brand-new muscle car or highly engineered European model, environmental factors such as fuel quality, extreme temperatures or stop-and-go driving can increase the amount of oil your engine uses.
So here at Groovy Lube, most of our people pop the hood and check their oil level at least every couple of weeks, and always right before a long trip. While some cars consume hardly any engine oil, others can burn off or drip plenty. That’s why it makes sense to check your oil level frequently between oil changes, as running with a low oil level increases stress on the engine and can seriously reduce the working life of the oil and the engine. It only takes a minute to check and top off if necessary, and it might add years of reliable, powerful and economical driving to the life of your engine.
Some modern cars have an electronic oil sensor that warns you when your motor oil is approaching the minimum safe level. But whether your car has one or not, it’s good practice to check your engine oil level manually on a regular basis, especially if you’re planning a road trip. After all, sensors and dash lights can both fail without you knowing about it.
Steps To Checking Engine Oil
- To check your engine oil level, first make sure to park your car on level ground, then wait at least 10 minutes to let the oil drain out of the engine and back into the sump.
- Raise and secure the hood, then locate the top of the dipstick, which is usually easy to see and to reach. Pull it out and use a rag or paper towel to wipe the end clean. Then replace it, making sure it goes all the way in, before immediately lifting it out and holding it in a horizontal position. Near the end of the dipstick there should be two lines, sometimes with a cross-hatched area in between. Ideally, the oil level should be at or near the highest line, though anywhere above the lower line is still OK.
- If the oil level is close to or below the minimum mark, you need to top off your oil right away. If the level is mid-way, then topping off your engine oil level is optional. Importantly, even if you only need to add a little oil, you must make sure you add the correct type and grade of oil.
- It’s also important to know that if you must drive somewhere to buy motor oil – your Groovy Lube service center is your go to Castrol provider for services or even to purchase top off oil. Remember that you need to park on level ground and wait ten minutes for the oil to drain into the sump before you make a top-off. That’s because overfilling your engine oil is just as bad for your engine as running low, and can cause serious damage, particularly to vehicles fitted with catalytic convertors.
- Once you’ve parked and waited, check the dipstick as before, and add a little oil at a time, cleaning and checking the dipstick after every addition, and making sure that you don’t take the level above the ‘maximum’ mark on the dipstick.
Do you have more questions??
Reach out to us, let’s chat!
