How to Check a Car's Oil

Part of your car's maintenance routine should include regularly checking the oil. Under normal driving conditions, you should change your oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Park your car on level ground and turn the engine off. Open the hood of your car and secure it with the prop rod. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.

2. Put the dipstick back into the tube that you removed it from. Remove the dipstick again and check the level of your motor oil on the stick. If the level is below the minimum indicator, add oil to your car.

3. Check the color of the oil on the dipstick. Motor oil is usually a light clear fluid but will darken under normal conditions. If the oil is black, it should be changed along with the oil filter. If the oil is light brown, this could indicate a coolant leak into the crank case.

4. Feel the oil on the dipstick. If the oil feels gritty, change the oil.

5. Smell the dipstick. If the oil has an odor of gas, it could indicate that the engine fuel systems needs repair.

6. Place the dipstick back into the tube.

Tips & Warnings

• Road conditions and the driving that you do will affect the interval at which your car's oil should be changed. Change your oil more often if you make frequent trips of less than 5 miles, often drive on dusty roads, tow a trailer or often idle in heavy stop-and-go traffic.