Mechanic doing an oil change

How to Check Your Car Oil

Your vehicle’s oil is crucial to keeping your car running smoothly on the Quincy roads. Knowing how to check the oil level in your car is essential to making sure your vehicle’s oil is well taken care of. Learn how to check car oil with the service center at Shottenkirk Chevrolet, and then feel free to set up an appointment with us to get your oil changed promptly, so you can get back on the road.

How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car: Step by Step

You’ll need to locate the dipstick that measures the oil level. Depending on your vehicle’s make, model, and year, your vehicle’s dipstick may be located in a different location, so you’ll want to check your owner’s manual to locate the dipstick. To check your oil level at home, here are the steps you’ll want to follow:

  1. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground.
  2. Leave the vehicle sitting with the engine off for about 10 minutes to ensure that the engine is cold.
  3. Pop open the hood of the vehicle, and locate the oil level dipstick.
  4. Once you’ve located the dipstick, pull it out, and wipe away the oil on the dipstick.
  5. Once the dipstick is wiped dry, you’ll want to re-insert the dipstick, pull it back out, and check both sides to see where the oil level is at.

If the oil is between the two lines of the oil level marker on the dipstick, then your oil level is good. If the oil is not in between the two lines, then you’ll need to get your oil changed. Schedule a visit with our service center near Hannibal to get your oil changed in no time.

How Often Should You Check Car Oil?

Now that you know how to check car oil, you might be wondering how often you should check the car oil. It’s recommended to have your oil checked at least twice a year to keep a proper eye on the condition of your vehicle’s oil level. This way, you can closely monitor the condition of your vehicle’s oil and watch for any irregularities in general.

Resetting the Oil Change Light

Sometimes the oil change light will remain flashing on your dashboard even after you have changed the oil. This happens often in most vehicles and you just need to manually reset it. The general process is the same for most vehicles, so follow these steps to reset your oil change light:

  • Leaving the engine running, turn off all the other systems in your car.
  • On your dashboard, locate the “reset” button or stick.
  • Hold the button down until the oil change light begins to flash.
  • Turn off the ignition and wait a few seconds. Then, turn your vehicle back on.

The oil change light should now be reset.

Service Your Vehicle at Shottenkirk Chevrolet

Knowing how to check car oil in your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your car stays in top condition. We’re located in Quincy, but you can contact Shottenkirk Chevrolet to set up a service appointment and answer any of your other questions and concerns. Learn more oil and car maintenance tips like how to check tire tread depth with the service pros at Shottenkirk Chevrolet, so you can keep your vehicle running like a top on the Cholchester roads.

August 28, 2024
Back to Parent Page