How to Check Your Engine Oil Level
Reviewed by GarageDex editorial
GarageDex's two-minute guide to checking engine oil, plus the two things people get wrong: reading the stick right after shutting off (the oil is still up in the engine, so it reads low) and topping up with whatever oil is on the shelf. Your car specifies a viscosity, and the fill difference between the marks is about a quart, so a full quart rarely fits.
For your exact carFind your car's oil type and capacityLook it upStep by step
- Park on level ground and switch the engine off. Wait 5 to 10 minutes so the oil drains back into the pan (most manufacturers specify a warm engine that has sat a few minutes; some specify cold, so check the manual once).
- Pull the dipstick (usually a yellow or orange loop), wipe it with a clean rag, push it all the way back in, and pull it out again.
- Read the level: the oil film should sit between the two marks, holes or the crosshatched area. The distance between them is usually one quart.
- If it is at or below the low mark, add half a quart of the correct oil through the filler cap, wait a minute, and re-check. Repeat until it sits near the top mark. Do not overfill.
- Look at the oil on the rag: amber to dark brown is normal; milky or foamy oil, or oil with a fuel smell, needs a shop.
Top up with the right oil
The viscosity (0W-20, 5W-30 and so on) is printed on the filler cap on most cars and in the manual on all of them. Look up the oil type and capacity for your year, make and model so the top-up matches what is already in the engine. Mixing brands is fine; mixing viscosities is not ideal but will not hurt a top-up. See can you mix oil brands or grades.
What you need
A clean rag and, for topping up, a funnel. That is the whole list.
Tools used in this guide
- Oil funnelA wide funnel with a flexible spout keeps the top-up off the engineView on Amazon
- Shop towelsLint-free, so nothing ends up in the oilView on Amazon
These tools fit any vehicle. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Reading what the oil looks like
Fresh oil is amber. It darkens quickly in a healthy engine, so dark oil alone does not mean it is due. What matters: milky or coffee-colored oil means coolant is mixing in (a head gasket or cooler problem), foam means overfilling or aeration, a strong fuel smell means fuel dilution from short trips or an injector problem, and grit means it is long overdue.
If it is low again soon
Engines consume some oil, and manufacturers consider up to about a quart per 1,000 miles acceptable on some designs. Faster than that, or drips on the driveway, means a leak or worn rings and valve seals. Keep it topped up while you find out which.
Frequently asked
Should I check oil with the engine hot or cold?
Most manufacturers say warm engine, switched off, after sitting 5 to 10 minutes on level ground so the oil returns to the pan. A few specify a cold check. Either way, never read it with the engine running, and give it a few minutes after a drive.
How much oil do I add if it is low?
The gap between the low and full marks is about one quart on most cars. Add half a quart, wait a minute, re-check, and stop near the full mark. Overfilling can push oil past seals and into the intake.
How often should I check the oil level?
Once a month and before any long trip. Many engines use some oil between changes, and a low level does more damage than slightly old oil. If you are adding a quart every 1,000 miles or less, have the engine looked at.
My car has no dipstick. How do I check the oil?
Some newer cars (many BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi and some Ford and Toyota models) report the level on the dashboard through a menu, usually with the engine warm and idling on level ground. The owner's manual shows the menu path.
Need your car's exact spec?
Find your car's oil type and capacity