How to Check Car Oil

You’ll find many different vehicle makes and models driving around San Diego roads, but one common element remains among nearly all of them: they require motor oil, which needs to be properly maintained. In order to keep your vehicle safe on Kearny Mesa roads, the engine components must work smoothly. Keep your car, truck, or SUV from overheating with proper motor oil maintenance. The service team here at Kearny Mesa Kia has put together the below guide on how to check car oil.

Most San Diego drivers will find this task pretty simple, but if you prefer to leave it to the professionals, the team at Kearny Mesa Kia can easily take care of this in our authorized service center.

Learn How to Check Oil Level in Car

Wondering how to your check oil level in a car? If you drive a vehicle, chances are it is equipped with an electronic oil monitor that replaces a traditional dipstick. If you are unsure, simply check your owner’s manual to learn more. If you need to check your oil level manually, we have provided a guide below:

1. Park your car on a level surface and make sure the vehicle is off and has had time to cool.
2. Open the hood of the car and find the dipstick.
3. Take the dipstick out and use a rag to remove the oil at the end of it.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way back into its tube, then pull it out again. Examine each side of the dipstick to determine the oil level.

How can you tell if your car has the proper oil level? Dipsticks indicate how much oil is required for your vehicle. If the top of your oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area on the dipstick, your oil level is good. If not, more oil should be added. Check your owner’s manual to see what type of oil is recommended by the manufacturer. After purchasing the correct type of oil, remove the oil filler cap, and add oil until the dipstick indicates it is full.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Now that you know how to check car oil levels, you may be wondering how important this is. Many drivers in the Kearny Mesa area avoid the task of checking the oil level, however, it is a very important maintenance step. Most vehicles should have an oil change at least twice a year, but this frequency can change depending on your driving habits. Check your oil level once a month to be sure.

When you check and change your oil regularly, you can find oil leaks early, before they lead to a bigger issue. Keep in mind, if your vehicle’s hood is hot to the touch or steam is billowing out from under the hood, you should bring your vehicle to our San Diego service center. Oil leaks can cause the engine to overheat.

How to Check Oil Level in Car and More from Kearny Mesa Kia

Kearny Mesa drivers in search of affordable, high-quality car maintenance can look no further than the experts at Kearny Mesa Kia. It is our mission to ensure San Diego area drivers stay safe on the roads and have access to quality vehicle maintenance for their new or used vehicles. Check out more service tips and tricks and liability insurance, compliments from the team at Kearny Mesa Kia.