How to check car oil properly: a guide by Toyota of N Charlotte experts
This is a safe space – when is the last time you popped the hood of your car and checked the oil? And all of a sudden it’s not a safe space because when we ask this question at our Charlotte Toyota service center, the answer is typical ‘never’. Most drivers rely on their dashboard warning when they’re due for an oil change. While it is convenient, you should check car oil properly and routinely between auto service appointments, and our Charlotte Toyota service experts are here to teach you how step by step.
How to check car oil properly: A step-by-step guide
Step #1: Cool down your car by turning it off. It’s best to check car oil when the vehicle has cooled off a little bit, so let your N Charlotte Toyota sit before you pop the hood. You should also make sure you’re parked on a flat, even surface.
Step #2: Open the hood of your car and find the dipstick. When you open the hood of your car, look for a ring or tab sticking out of the engine. This is your oil dipstick, and it’s what you’ll use to check car oil.
Step #3: Carefully remove the dipstick from the engine. Pull the dipstick out of the engine, wipe it on a clean rag, and reinsert it. Pull it out of the engine again and take a look at the oil on it. Here are things to note:
The color of the oil. Your oil should be caramel or slightly darker in color – this means it’s clean and ready to do its job. If your car oil is dark brown or black, or you can see flecks of debris in it, it’s dirty and needs to be changed ASAP. If it’s milky in color, you may have coolant leaking into it. Still not sure how to read oil color? Toyota of N Charlotte’s auto service techs can help.
The level of the oil. Look at the end of the dipstick. You should see two tic marks or dots. The oil level should be in between these two marks – this indicates that you have enough oil in the reservoir to keep your engine cool and lubricated. If the engine oil level falls below the bottom mark – like you can barely see it – then your oil level is too low and you need to come and visit our service center. You may just need an oil change, but you also may have an oil leak that needs to be located and fixed.
Step #4: Put the dipstick back. Once you’re done examining the oil on it, put the dipstick back into the engine and decide what course of action to take. Are you good to go? Do you need an oil change? Do you think there’s an issue with your oil? Whatever you need, the Toyota of N Charlotte auto service center can help.
Here are just a few other tips for checking car oil properly:
Your oil change schedule can be set to time OR mileage, whichever you hit first. A lot of people assume you only go by mileage for oil changes, and if you’re not driving much, you don’t need to worry about it. This is far from true – even if you never drive your car, you should still be getting routine oil changes based on time to keep your engine in the best shape possible and prevent problems. Our auto service techs at our Charlotte car care center can get you on a schedule based on time AND mileage so you know when you’re due to come in, and they’ll send you helpful reminders to keep you on track.
Your car also requires a certain type of motor oil. You can find it in your owner’s manual or in the Toyota app, or ask one of the Toyota of N Charlotte auto service techs which oil your car requires. It could change over time, too – older vehicles may need high-mileage oil for the best performance possible. That’s why routine car maintenance is critical.
