When Should You Check The Engine Oil Level?
22 Mar 2023
It's essential to change your engine oil at the intervals recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. But how often should you check your oil level? And is there any certain time to check your oil is at the correct level? A lot of modern vehicles now have oil level sensors, which can be checked either via buttons usually located on your vehicle’s dashboard or via diagnostics on the on-board computer. But for most drivers, the oil level has to be checked via their oil dipstick. It's worth remembering that your motor oil is no less important than any other engine component. In this article, we’ll answer the following questions, so you can know exactly when, and why, you should be on top of your car's oil level:
- Why Should You Check The Engine Oil Level?
- Where Should You Check Your Engine’s Oil Level?
- What Should Your Engine Oil Level Be?
- How To Check Your Engine’s Oil Level?
- When Should You Check The Engine Oil Level?
- What If The Oil Needs Changing?
- Which Oil Goes In My Vehicle?
- Why Should You Check The Engine Oil Level?
The oil in your engine is an important part of keeping your engine healthy and running smoothly. It keeps everything lubricated in order to promote a smooth driving experience and it extends the life of your engine. Engine oil reduces friction by stopping metal parts in your engine from rubbing against each other, this helps protect against wear and tear. Engine oil also has other important jobs including keeping your engine cool and keeping your engine clean from deposits.
If your vehicle’s oil level drops too low, your engine could be at risk from seizing up, this can cause long lasting damage and can increase your maintenance costs. By checking your oil level at regular intervals over the course of its life, you can ensure that your engine operates at peak performance for longer.
Where Should You Check Your Engine’s Oil Level?
The short answer to this question is that you can check your oil level anywhere. It is a simple enough process that can be done wherever you see fit, whether that be on a driveway, a parking space or even on the side of a road if necessary, as long as you are in a safe place to do so and wearing high viz to keep yourself safe. We would also recommend checking your oil when you are at the petrol station filling up your tank, as this is where you should check other aspects of your car particularly before a long journey, for example, checking tyre pressure.
To make sure you can get an accurate reading, we recommend that you check your engine’s oil level when you are on flat ground, this is so the oil is not leaning to one side. The flatter your vehicle, the more accurate of a reading you will get.
What Should Your Engine Oil Level Be?
Every vehicle is different, which means there’s no universal amount of oil that your vehicle will need. It all depends on engine size and the different engine components. Your oil level should be somewhere between the two marks on the dipstick, if you have one, that shows the optimum level your oil should be at. If your oil level is below the bottom line, or if somehow there isn't any oil on the dipstick at all, you should top up your engine oil as soon as possible.
How To Check Your Engine’s Oil Level?
When you check your engine oil, you should consider the temperature of your vehicle. If you check the oil when your engine is hot, you should wait at least 10 minutes since the engine was last running.
Here is a step-by-step guide to checking an engine's oil level, so you can get it right, every time.
Step 1: Park your vehicle on level ground
Step 2: With the engine turned off, pop the bonnet and locate the oil dipstick, if you have one. It usually has an orange or yellow plastic tab, so you can easily recognise it
Step 3: Remove the dipstick
Step 4: Wipe the dipstick from handle to tip with a clean towel or cloth
Step 5: Reinsert the dipstick, pushing it all the way back in
Step 6: Remove the dipstick once more. The indicators on the bottom of the stick will let you know if the oil level is low, just right or too high
Step 7: Put the dipstick back in its place. From the readings, you should now know your oil level
When Should You Check The Engine Oil Level?
You should check your engine’s oil level at regular intervals. We would recommend popping the bonnet every few weeks, and always before a long journey. After driving your vehicle, let your engine cool down. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes, that way the oil will cool down and also collect in the lower oil pan. But check your vehicle’s owner manual as some manufacturers recommend checking the oil while it’s hot.
It is often better to measure the oil level when the engine is cool due to safety concerns. Engine oil can reach temperatures of 250 Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius, especially in hot climates. If you live in a hot country, measure the oil level either in the morning or at night, as engines can get very hot, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is at its climax.
If you live in a colder country, checking your vehicle’s oil when the temperatures are freezing outside may affect your oil readings. In this case, you should consider running your engine for a little while before beginning the process. Let the vehicle stand for 10 minutes after you’ve turned off the engine before checking the oil.
What If The Oil Needs Changing?
If your oil needs changing, we recommend seeking help from a professional. This is not something you should consider doing yourself, unless you know what you are doing as it is a complicated process. Your car manufacturer guide will detail the recommended engine oil to use for your vehicle. You will often be able to tell if your oil needs changing if the oil appears thick, gritty or milky. This means the oil won’t be as effective as it should be.
Which Oil Goes In My Vehicle?
It's usually your mechanic who will select the oil for your car, they will tell you why they have selected the particular oil based on the oil's benefits for your motor, and they will double check the recommendations from your car's manufacturer handbook if need be. Your car manual will always list what type of oil is recommended. It may also recommend slightly different oil depending on whether you live in a hot or cold climate. It’s important to use oil that's the right viscosity for location. Oil that's too thick or thin won't properly lubricate your engine, which can result in premature damage. As there are many types of cars, there are a vast amount of different engine oils, so always follow the manufacturer's guidelines in selecting the right oil for your vehicle.
Checking your engine oil is a fairly simple task, as long as you know how to do it correctly. Find out more about engine oils and see the range of Gulf car engine oils.