How to Check Car Oil

You can consider engine oil to be the lifeblood of your vehicle, so it’s critical to keep an eye on the volume and quality of your oil. The oil in your engine works hard to lubricate all of the moving parts, preventing friction, overheating, and damage. One step you can take to make sure that your vehicle is still running smoothly is learning how to check the oil level in your car. If you’re ready to learn how to check your car’s oil, then let our service center near Powell make it easy for you.

Learn How to Check the Oil Level in Your Car

Newer vehicles are often equipped with electronic oil monitors, meaning you won’t need to use a traditional dipstick to check your oil. Start by examining your owner’s manual to find recommendations on how to check car oil for your model.

If you are able to check your oil manually with a dipstick, the steps here will teach you how:

1. Park your vehicle on level ground. Turn it off and allow it to cool.
2. Open the hood of your vehicle and locate the dipstick. Your owner’s manual will explain how to find it if you’re unsure.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
4. Re-insert the dipstick back into its tube, then remove it again.
5. Examine all sides to see the current volume.
6. Your dipstick will have an indicator for the proper volume. If the oil streak is within the markings, you’re good to go. If not, you’ll need to add more oil.
7. Slowly add the proper grade of oil until the volume is sufficient.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

While you’ll want to check your oil level once a month and have it changed roughly every six months, you may wonder why you should bother checking at all. Since it prevents overheating, you’ll want to ensure that your oil volume and quality are up to snuff. Routine checks will allow you to spot any irregularities and prevent major hazards. If you notice that your hood is hot to the touch, or you spot smoke billowing from under the hood, pull over immediately. You’ll want to visit us for service right away.

How to Reset Oil Change Light

If you’ve opted for a DIY oil change at your home in Cody, you’ll need to know how to reset the oil change light. While each model will have its own quirks, the general process is the same for most vehicles. It is imperative that you only reset your oil change light after properly servicing your vehicle, since neglecting oil changes will lead to damage.

How to Reset Oil Change Light: Step-by-Step:

• Turn off all of the systems in your car, but keep the engine running.
• Find the “reset” button or stick on the dashboard, this is generally found near the speedometer and fuel gauge.
• Hold the button down until the oil change light flashes (the sign that your light is resetting may differ per vehicle).
• Turn off the ignition, wait a moment, turn the car back on.
• Your oil change light should be reset!

Let Our Service Center Handle All of Your Car Needs

You don’t have to worry about what services are available near Billings, MT when you trust our service center for all of your car care needs. Schedule service today and let us handle all of the process, so you can relax and trust that our team is handling it right the first time. Contact us with any questions you might still have about how to maintain your used SUV.