How to Check Oil Level in Car

Whether you’re taking on the daily commute or only making quick stops to the Boyd-area store, your vehicle’s motor oil ensures your engine internal parts are moving smoothly. It’s essential that your Ford have the right amount of oil to protect those parts. Follow along with Karl Klement Ford to learn how to check your car oil, and if you have any questions along the way, reach out to our Bowie service team.

Steps for How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

To learn how to check the car oil level, you should first know if your vehicle has an electric oil monitor. Check the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the manufacturer recommendations. If you have to manually check your oil level, follow these steps:

Starting Your Car or Truck

  1. The best environment to check your car oil level is when your vehicle is on level ground, and after the engine has been turned off and cooled down.
  2. Pop open the hood, and locate the dipstick.
  3. Remove the dipstick from the engine and wipe any oil residue from the stick.
  4. Fully insert the dipstick into the tube again, then pull it out and look at both sides to see where the oil level currently is.
The dipstick has marks on it to indicate where the proper oil level is. When performing steps for how to check oil level in your car, the oil level should be between two marks or within a cross-hatched area. If it is below those marks, slowly add more oil until they reach the correct level. Reach out to our parts center to find the proper oil for your model, or check your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

The Importance of Checking the Car Oil Level

While often overlooked when performing vehicle care, maintaining the proper oil level is necessary for engine performance. At the least, an oil change should be performed twice a year, but that can vary depending on how the vehicle is driven around Fort Worth. Yet, oil checks should be performed at least once a month for peace of mind that you have no leaks, and you have enough engine oil to take on weekend adventures and road trips. If you notice the hood is hot to the touch or steam is coming from under the hood, you should immediately schedule service as it hints at a larger problem with your vehicle.

Resetting the Oil Change Light

If you’ve recently changed your oil, but the oil change light is still on you can follow the steps below for how to reset the oil change light. Keep in mind that while the general process is the same for most vehicles, each vehicle has a specific process for resetting the light.

Steps for How to Reset Oil Change Light

  • Turn all systems of your car off, but leave the engine running.
  • Locate the “reset” button or stick on the dashboard. It’s often found near the speedometer and fuel gauge.
  • Press and hold the button until the oil change light starts to flash. Keep in mind indication of the change light resetting may differ depending on the vehicle.
  • Shut off the engine for a few seconds, then turn the car back on.
The check engine light should be reset now! Be sure to only reset the change oil light after you’ve performed an oil change as missing an oil change can lead to larger problems.

Trust the Service Team at Karl Klement Ford

Now that you know how to check your car oil and the importance behind it, turn to the certified technicians at Karl Klement Ford for your Karl Klement Ford service. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more service tips, then, be sure to check out our service specials for ways you can save on your next visit.

Sales Department

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Thurs:
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Fri:
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Sat:
closed
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Tues:
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wed:
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Thurs:
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Fri:
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat:
closed
Sun:
closed