How to Check Oil in Your Vehicle

The lifeblood of your vehicle is your engine oil. It keeps your FIAT, Dodge, Ram vehicle running, and it’s crucial you have the right amount of oil for your vehicle’s moving parts to function smoothly. Whether you are navigating the roads of Carrboro or venturing beyond, read on to learn more about how to check oil in cars from the service team at Hendrick Dodge Cary! 

How to Check Engine Oil: 4 Simple Steps

Many new vehicles have monitors that check your oil electronically instead of with the dipstick, so check your owner’s manual for vehicle-specific information, including how long to run the engine before checking oil, and other tips for how to check oil in your vehicle:

1. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground and that the engine is turned off and cold (so, for how long to run the engine before checking oil: it’s best to wait awhile and make sure it’s properly cooled off).
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe any oil from the end of it.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way back into its tube, then pull it out and look at both sides to see where the level is.

Your dipstick will have a method of indicating whether you have enough oil. If the top of your oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area, the level is good. If it isn’t, you need to add more oil. Be sure to buy the grade recommended in the owner’s manual, remove the oil filler cap, then add oil in small portions until the dipstick indicates you’ve reached the proper level.

Resetting the Oil Light After Checking Your Oil

Each vehicle has a specific process for turning off the oil light, but in general it’s quite similar. Only reset the oil change light if you’ve actually changed your oil. Missing an oil change can cause damage to your vehicle.

How to Reset Oil Change Light: 

1. Turn all systems of your car off, but leave the engine running.
2. Find the “reset” button or stick on the dashboard: near the speedometer and fuel gauge.
3. Hold the button down until the oil change light begins to flash (sign of resetting may differ per vehicle).
4. Turn the ignition off, wait a few seconds, then turn your car back on.
5. At this point, the oil light should be reset. If you have any questions regarding how to reset your oil change light or how to check oil in cars, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!

Schedule Oil Service Near Chapel Hill

Explore our service specials and get tips and tricks from our service team in Cary. Schedule service with us today or contact us online for further assistance.