How to Check the Oil in Car

Motor oil is the lifeblood that keeps your Toyota car running on the Tampa streets. Without the correct amount, your engine’s internal moving parts will be at risk for any damage, which can affect the performance of your car as well as overall safety. Learn how to check the oil level in your car, so there’s enough oil to protect the parts at all times. Find out more with our service team at Wesley Chapel Toyota below! 

Learn How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

There are some newer vehicles with electronic oil monitors that don’t use traditional dipsticks, so first things first, check your owner’s manual to see the proper recommendations. If your Toyota model has a traditional dipstick, then you’ll need to check the oil manually. Here are the steps on how to check the oil in your car manually:

1. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground and that the engine is turned off and cold. How long to let the car sit before checking the oil?It will be different for each car as well as the climate you’re in, but usually, it takes anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes. You can wait a bit longer after turning off the engine if you want to be on the safer side.
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe off any oil from the end.
4. Insert the dipstick back into its tube all the way. Then, pull it out and look at both sides to see where the level is.

No matter which dipstick your car has, it should have some way of indicating the proper oil level. If the top of your oil streak is between two marks or within a cross-hatched area, then the level is good. If it isn’t, you’ll need to add more oil. Always buy the grade recommended in the owner’s manual, and when you have the proper grade on hand, remove the oil filler cap and begin adding oil a little at a time until the dipstick shows you’ve reached the proper level.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Now that you know how to check the oil level in your car, you may be wondering why exactly this routine service is important. The right amount of oil is crucial to the performance of your car, so oil services like oil changes and oil level checks are a must. When you check the oil at least once a month, you can ensure there are no leaks and you have enough to go on your Lakeland commutes. if you do realize that your car’s hood is hot to the touch or see there’s steam billowing out from under the hood, you need to schedule a service appointment immediately as your car could have an oil leak and the engine is overheating. 

How to Reset Oil Change Light

Each model will have a slightly different process for resetting the oil change light, but the general process is the same. Only reset the oil change light if you’ve actually changed your oil. If you accidentally miss an oil change, it can damage your car in the long run. Here are the steps to reset the oil change light: 

1. Turn all systems of your car off, but leave the engine running.
2. Find the “reset” button or stick on the dashboard (usually located near the speedometer and fuel gauge).
3. Hold the button down until the oil change light begins to flash (the sign of resetting may differ per model).
4. Turn the ignition off, wait a few seconds, and then turn your car back on.

Learn More About Car Oil from Wesley Chapel Toyota 

If you have any questions about any of the steps on how to check the oil in your car, such as how long to let your car sit before checking the oil for your particular Toyota model or situation, reach out to us today! We would be happy to tell you more about how long an oil change in Wesley Chapel takes and how to schedule a lightning-speed oil change from our service center online.