Content

• What you need
• Advice
• Warning

Locate the dipstick. This is a small yellow lid with a ring on top and usually says "Engine Oil", but even without these features it is not difficult to find. The dipstick is a metal rod that extends down the pot of oil, and based on the height of the oil level it will tell you how much oil is in the engine. It's near the front of the car and has a light-colored hook or circle handle, and you can pull the dipstick out without touching the oil at all.

Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with a dry cloth. The oil in the engine will splash on the dipstick when the car is running, meaning you should wipe it clean and re-dip it to get accurate results. Watch for signs near the center or end of the stick, usually dots, lines, squares with slashes, or curves. The highest line is the "Full Line", and the appropriate oil level should be somewhere between these two lines.

Dip the stick again and pull it out to check the oil level. This time you need to pay attention to where the oil is on the rod. The oil level should be closer to the top line than the bottom line, usually as close as possible. However, you do not need to refill the oil unless the oil level is at or below the lowest line.

• If the oil level is near the lowest line and you are not sure whether to refill the oil, continue using the car and check again after 2-3 weeks.

Find the oil filling port. Oil filling ports usually always have the word "oil" with the image of oil cans above. If you can't find one, check the manual, although it's usually near the front of the car, near the engine and dipstick. Unscrew the lid and set aside.

Check the dipstick to see how much oil to add. Usually the difference between the lower and upper levels of the rod is close to 1 liter, so you can use this information to estimate the amount of oil to be filled. For example, if the oil level is between two lines then you need to refill half a liter. That said, you should refill the oil in 0.25 liter increments to avoid spills, the oil spill will cause serious engine problems.

Fill the tank with oil slowly and check regularly. Pour the oil for 2-3 seconds then wait a minute, then check with a dipstick. Clean the rod after the test is complete, add a little oil and check again. You should add oil to the highest mark on the dipstick without spilling it.

• Using a funnel will make it easier for you to refill the oil without spilling it on the engine.

Close the oil supply port cover. Rarely do you need to add more than 1 liter of oil. If this happens then there must have been a serious engine problem, and you should check the oil after a week for leaks. If there is no leak then the car can run well. Remember to change the oil when the oil is dirty or the vehicle has traveled 8,000 km. advertisement

What you need

• Engine oil
• Funnel
• Wipes, paper towels or cloth (to clean dipstick)

Advice

• Search the internet for your vehicle's make, model, and year of manufacture if you don't know which oil to use.

Warning

• Keep fire away from engine while working.
• Use caution when servicing the vehicle while the engine is still hot.