How to Add Motor Oil to a Car

To assure your car's proper engine oil lubrication, you should regularly check your motor oil level. It is normal for most car engines to use up one quart of oil between oil changes. The best time to check the oil level is before starting the vehicle after it has sat overnight.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper towel
• Funnel

1. Open the hood of your car and secure it with the hood prop rod.

2. Locate your motor oil indicator dipstick and remove it.

3. Wipe the dipstick clean and replace it back into the tube that you removed it from.

4. Remove the dipstick again and check the level of the motor oil on the end of the stick.

5. Using a funnel, add motor oil to the engine filler in small amounts. Check the dipstick after each application.

6. Continue checking and filling motor oil until the level falls somewhere between the minimum and maximum indicator lines on the stick.

7. Wipe up any spilled motor oil and close the hood of the car.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the motor oil level with the engine off and your car parked on a level surface.
• If you are checking your motor oil after the engine has been running, you wait 5 minutes to allow the oil to drain back to the crank case.
• Make sure your motor oil has the proper viscosity for your car's make. This information would be available in your car owner's manual.
• Filling your motor oil level above the maximum indicator on the rod could seriously damage your car's engine.

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