Check engine oil regularly, especially if you notice that the oil level drops between the oil changes. Engine oil cools down and lubricates the engine. Driving with very low oil level can cause engine problems.
Park your vehicle on a level ground. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in "Park". Stop the engine. Wait for a minute or two to let engine oil drain into the oil pan. Pull the engine oil dipstick. If you don't know where it’s located, check your owner's manual, usually it has a bright handle saying "Engine Oil".
Wipe the dipstick off. Insert it back fully. Pull it out again and check the oil level.
The oil level should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks. In this photo the level is OK and oil looks clean.
Check the oil condition: If it's way too black, as in the left photo, it's definitely time to change it. If it's brown, but still clean and transparent, as in the right photo, it's OK. If engine oil is of the "coffee with milk" color it means that engine coolant mixes with oil. This is a sign of some internal engine problem, such as, for example, a leakinghead gasket - have your car checked out.
If oil looks clean, but the level is low, you can just top it up.
How to top off engine oil:
Add a little amount of oil into the oil filler neck. Wait for a minute to let oil to flow into the oil pan. Check the oil level again with the dipstick. If it's still low, add some more. But don't overfill it. Don't forget to install the dipstick back and close the oil filler cap when you finished.
To view a full slide of detailed step by step photos visit: http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/simple.html
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