How to Check Your Car's Motor Oil

Check Your Car's Motor Oil

Rate: (0 Ratings)

A farmer once told me that you are born knowing nothing. I have found this to be completely true throughout my years, and I know that even simple things, like checking your car's oil, have to be learned somehow.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Paper Towel
Decent Eyesight
A few spare minutes
Good Motor Oil
Funnel

Step1

First you need to pop your car's hood. There is usually a small black lever to pull up, it might even have the picture of a car's hood on it. (Mine does!)

Step2

Place the hood holder into the made-for-it slot. (The long black hooky thing.) This should secure the hood into place. If it doesn't, your head might get chopped off, so try extra hard on this step.

Step3

Now you need to locate the motor oil dipstick. It is labeled "MOTOR OIL" so it is hard to miss. Pull it out straight, and take a look at it. The stick will have it's own measurement, and will tell you if it needs to be filled. Wipe the stick clean with the paper towel, and replace it for a moment, then take it out one more time. Same result? Now ya know if you need it fill or not. If no, skip to step 5. If yes, go to number 4.

Step4

Now that we know you need to fill, you'll have to find your funnel, and bottle of motor oil. Locate the larger opening cover labeled "MOTOR OIL" and unscrew the cap. Put your funnel directly into the opening. Now, depending on how low your dipstick indicated your car was, you will need to play mad scientist and figure out an amount. Generally, if the tank was empty, you might want to try half of the bottle, and then check. If there is no change go for the whole thing. I'm a big believer that too much is better than too little, in the car world.

Step5

Now it's clean-up time. Replace the cap and the dipstick, if you haven't already. Throw out the paper towels, and make sure that any spilled Motor Oil is off of the ground and away from where animals and kids can reach and/or eat it. Close the hood and drive safely!!

Tips & Warnings

Always Remember: Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty!!
Try and buy the better stuff for your car. It will run better, and thank you later when it doesn't stall in the middle of the road.
DO NOT LEAVE UNUSED MOTOR OIL IN REACH OF CHILDREN OR ANIMALS!!
TRY NOT TO PUT IT IN YOUR EYE