How to Check Your Engine Oil Level & Read an Oil Dipstick
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ก.ค. 2024
- How to read and understand your oil dipstick. Learn the 3 rules for accurately checking your oil and how to keep from getting scammed by shady mechanics.
#car #howto #diy
Thanks for watching the video How to Check Your Engine Oil Level & Read an Oil Dipstick - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Clint, great vid, but a caveat. Used to check my oil in garage with stone cold engine. Reading my owner’s manual recently it said, “check engine oil while warm/hot...turn off and wait a FEW (ie 3) minutes for oil to drain back into crankcase”. So, comparing methods, there was a half quart difference. If I checked cold and it was half below full, it actually needed a quart of oil. Other cars would say check cold...read your manual re how to check the level. 👌
Great advice. I will pin this comment to help others as well.
Excellent Comment !! Thats Exactly what Im looking for......is car off or on when checking My oil?? Most vids are simply ignorant !!
this is the info I was looking for, thanks David.
@@angelaforsyth1092 My pleasure!
@@denisemezynski8014 Denise, I've never heard of checking the oil level on any motor while it's running...always off.
Thank you, this is the most clear explanation I have watched. I watched a couple of others which went so fast on what they were supposed to explain, on HOW to READ the oil dipstick!
Thank you for the kind comments and thanks for watching.
Great explanation. I’ve been changing my own oil for 23 years. Started when I was 16. I always check it cold and have never had an issue. After all these years I’ve always wondered how low it was when it was at the bottom. I always thought that meant it was about empty. Lol. Glad I was wrong. I usually add a small amount if it’s in between. I usually put just the right amount in.
Clueless when it came to checking the oil in my car. This video was the best one I found that helped show me the basics of what I needed to know in order to do this myself. Thank you
Awesome and glad to hear. That is exactly why I make these videos.
Amazing video. Extremely thorough! We need more detailed oriented people like yourself!
Thank you for this to-the-point easy-to-understand very informative video. I watched four other videos none of which covered all the important points that yours did. I'm not a novice but I was looking for something in particular and you answered my question. Again thank you very much.👍🏼
Awesome and thanks for sharing. Love hearing that the video helped.
@@ClintHolland 👍🏼
Ive watched several videos about checking oil levels. this video was by far the best one I've seen. close up of the dipstick and what exact it is I'm supposed to be looking for. The only thing it didn't cover that I was mainly searching for and found in the comments was do I check the levels when the engine was cold or after it has been running for awhile. Otherwise, great and informative video. straight and to the point in little time. thanks
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I actually did cover most of that around the 6 minute mark. Doesn't matter if the engine is cold or not but it needs to be turned off and generally wait at least 5-10 minutes after doing so.
Clint Holland, thank you for such an amazing and truthful video. Just what I needed to know. God bless you always, CC
You are very welcome. Glad it helped and thanks for watching.
Very good explanation on how to use the oil dip stick on checking the level of engine oil. The other videos were not explaining well on where exactly to observe on the oil dip stick the minimum and maximum oil levels!
Glad it helped and thanks for the feedback.
Very good instructions. Just what I needed. Thank you !!!
Thank you. This is the best how to video I have ever seen. Great job!
Thank you. Glad I could help.
Thank you this was very detailed all the other videos I seen was not explaining it correctly to me where I could understand.
You are welcome and thanks for watching.
Thank you so much. This was so informative. The pictures of the levels on the dip stick great.
Thanks for the kinds comments and glad it helped.
my oil stick has no markings, just a curve on it about 2 inches up the stick. but this was helpful my jeep uses a lot of oil!!
THANX 4 THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL. IT IS SO HELPFUL. TOP MARKS👍👍👍
In addition to the clear and concise explanation, you have a very engaging speaking style. Thanks!
Aww, thank you. Love hearing the positive feedback and thanks for watching.
Thank you so much you are a lifesaver to an old lady in Ohio
Man this is the best vid man. Thank you for explaining everything clearly unlike other vids
That's why I make these videos. Thanks for the kind words and for watching.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very informative.
Thanks for watching and hope it helped.
Very good info. Thanks for the effort to video this.
Out of ten videos on this subject, this one is the best made one.
Thank you Malcolm. That is an awesome compliment.
This video is very informative. Thank you so much!
Thanks!! Good simple info.
Remindful review of what dad taught years ago. Thank you 4 this video! Awesome help. Measuring oil on LEVEL area seems logical, but completely didn't think of it until brought 2 attention.😒 Duh! Live n unlevel area. Still must "eyeball it" but mindful of correct measuring now. ( will buy a level) THANKS SO MUCH!
Also 4 clearing up warm vrs. cold engine. Cold best. Must measure oil n drip pan not n engine. Got it! 👍
Thanks for watching Jennifer and glad I helped bring back those memories.
Clint, thank you for the video. Although I have worked on my own vehicles for years, I have always questioned what I am seeing. I am kind of paranoid. My very first vehicle, 86 buick regal 307 V8, leaked oil badly, but I was young to the point of not understanding what a tight engine is. We always had a little spot on our driveway while I was growing up. So, when I got my 2nd vehicle, a 93 Geo Storm GSI(a year w/o the popup lights) , I was checking my oil 3 or 4 times a week, and that sucker never moved in a months time. I KNEW I was reading it wrong. I KNEW it HAD to be running low, no matter what the dipstick read. So finally, I said, "#$@! IT(because I cussed like a sailor back then), and I poured a quart of 10w40 into it, Even though everything i read now says 5w30, dropped the hood and went to work. 3 to 5 miles down the road, my car started cutting back REALLY hard. I'm trying to think of what's going on while going down this major highway (Major Panama City, FL), and my car was acting like I had really slow and off kilter ABS brakes, SLAM, loose, SLAM, loose. Then the car leveled out, and I glanced in the rear view to see to see smoke coming out behind that was so thick James Bond would have been jealous of my smoke screen. All of it a bright white too. At the top of the bridge I could look back and see this smoke screen still hanging on the road a good half mile back...lol. SO, I said all that to say that I am terrified to put oil in my car(unless I'm actually doing an oil change), and scared to death that my oil is too low. I now have a 2000 Lincoln Town Car, and its age only makes this anxiety worse....lol. thanks for the help. One of these days, I'll relate to y'all the literal "Come to Jesus" meeting i had while driving the Geo to work and didn't realize it for 20 years afterward.
Thanks again Clint. Sorry for the lengthy post. Had to lay down some context first.
I love it Eric. You definitely want to use the correct oil in your car. Use the wrong viscosity and maybe nothing happens or maybe you ruin your entire engine.
Very informative! Thanks!
great explanation, thank you
Thank you for this great video. It was easy to understand and very well explained!! Continued blessings to you and your family!!
Thank you Gera. Appreciate the nice words.
@@ClintHolland Very welcome sir and keep up the good work!!
great video, good job,thanks
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you for the piece of mind.
You are welcome and thanks for watching.
Big help thank you so much
Very helpful, thanks for the well-done video and info!
Absolutely. Thank you for watching.
very helpful! thanks
I appreciate this video as a woman I feel happy to now know this👍Thank you !
Awesome Lisa. Glad it helped.
As a women - your car does not care.
Great information. Thank you.
U R A GOD AT THIS🙏 MY HUSBAND DONT HAVE TIME TO CHECK MY CAR N I DONT HAVE TIME TO WAIT OM HIM TO CHECK...AND I LOVE TO LEARN N DO IT MYSELF SINCE ITS MY BEAUTIFUL CAR N I DEIVE IT ALL THE TIME....THANK U FOR THE LESSON REALLY USEFUL
Thank you Gabby. Happy to help.
Thank you for this it was helpful refresher
As a female driver, I love this explanation. Thank you!
Thanks Marilyn. That's what I was going for so it's great to hear it worked.
@@ClintHolland have a FORD 500 and the dipstick is weird and hard to read. There are two holes...should the top hole be filled in or empty?
@@mem1701movies So the top hole would be the max fill line. Just make sure your oil is between the 2 holes and you should be fine.
As a female driver - would you like a medal?
@@gladiammgtow4092 So sorry you are unhappy and bitter! Blame your childhood and your parents, I wasn't there.
Thanks for this video
That was right on the money bro thank you
Great video, very informative and to the point.
Thanks for watching. Hopefully it helped you check your oil level correctly.
LMFAO at 1:31 😂😂😂 on a real note thank you so much for this video !! You explained it perfectly. Every other video i watched i still had no clue what i was looking at lol
Thank you Nicole and I appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment.
Great video man
Best video I've seen out of the 5 I watched very descriptive and a short video
Thank you Edgy. Appreciate the kind words.
Awsome! Huge help!
I think I've done this to myself by mistake. As I know my car said it needed oil and my car was on a level spot in a parking lot. Next day I checked it and it was fine. I think when it read as low, I hadn't pushed the dip stick all the way in, but did not realize it.
Oh yeah, that can definitely be a problem. Shady mechanics used to do something called thumbing where they used their thumb to make it look like you were low and then sold you a bottle of oil which was empty.
Grandma here...thank you so very much! I can now check my oil level in my car and not be taken advantage of!
Perfect. That is why I make these videos. Glad to hear it helped out.
Thank you man!
Thank you for explaining this 👍
You are welcome and thanks for watching.
good info--so many people don't know how to check it right-thanks
Thanks and that is exactly why I made this video.
Great explanation, thank you!
Thanks for watching and hope it helped.
Great job!
Thankyou brother!!
Thank you!
Thanks bro!
Never had pops show me so thank u bro frfr
That's what I am here for.
Thanks a lot.
Good information, thanks a lot. An ATF level check video will be equally helpful.
Good idea. I will add that to the list.
Simple and exact, just the way I like it.
Thank you.
This is a proper "how to read your oil stick" video.
Thank you.
All of this is very helpful except for the very last suggestion: checking your oil at the gas station. If I've driven to the gas station, then the engine is going to be warm and the dipstick will not give an accurate reading... and I don't want to sit at the pump for 10 minutes to let the engine cool. I think a better suggestion would be to check the dipstick before you leave home to go to the gas station.
That's a very valid point. However, in all honesty, letting your car sit for even a few minutes will give you a pretty accurate reading.
Very thorough-- surely I can do this-- lol. Many thanks!!
You absolutely can. Thanks for watching.
@@ClintHolland very welcome-- keep up the good work and continued blessings to you and your family!!
It is amazing explaination
Thank You!!
You are welcome. Thank you for watching.
Amazing vid! ❤️🔥
Thanks and thanks for watching.
Thank You
Thank god you put the graph of correct oil levels on a dipstick at the end of your video. All the other morons on TH-cam explaining oil levels dont even show this simple graph showing safe and non safe levels. The best videos show graphs.
Thank you so much
Absolutely. Hope it helped.
I was just making sure being at the second dot was okay bc it’s been awhile since I’ve checked oil and found my answer as soon as I seen the diagram but than ended up watching the whole
video of stuff I already knew. Idk why I couldn’t quit watching 😂
I am ok with you watching the whole video. Thanks for watching and hope it helped.
Thanks.
Thank u for info can u keep informìng us.hope u have one on air to tires.
Great idea. I will add that to my list.
According to the owner's manual for our 2009 RAV4, the difference between the add oil mark and the full mark on our dip-stick is 1.6 quarts (not one quart).
Ok. Thanks for letting us know.
Thanks we really needed to know that
Great video
Thank you and thanks for watching. Hope it helped.
Nice bro
So.... in Every video Ive watched !! Not A One has said to turn engine on or Off ??? What type of Mechanics are being Bred?? My step dad was a mechanic .....and a Great one I might add. He said Always have car on when checking oil !!
I have been doing this a long time and have never heard of a vehicle that recommends you check the oil while the engine is running. There are some that recommend you check it while the engine is cold and some that recommend it be hot, but I have never heard of needing to have it running. Not saying it isn't a thing but it is definitely rare and not the norm. Think about this. If your car is low in oil why would you want the driver to start the engine and possibly damage it from low oil just so they can check it and determine it is low. The true answer you are looking for is that you should check your owner's manual. The designers of the engine designed the oil sump and dip stick and they know best how they want it checked.
Thanks
You are wonderful! Thank you. I have a Ford 500 and EVERYTHING about it is difficult to the point of needing a degree to maintain the vehicle. This video should come up 1st when I video searched "How to read the oil dipstick in my car". But it doesn't!! Argh!
Thank you for the kind comments. Hope it helped and if it didn't. feel free to post your question so we can help.
@@ClintHolland exactly. The dipstick in this car is weird. Also what if the car calls for 5w20 and the shop put in 5w30 saying it’s an older vehicle? It’s the dealer (not Ford) that gave low cost oil changes with the car. Some say it won’t hurt... others say it will. I thought they were supposed to go with what it called for.
@@mem1701movies That's interesting Matt. You see this frequently in shady car lots and repair shops where they put in a different viscosity oil to try and make the engine run quieter. Never heard of an oil shop putting it in just because the car is older and I certainly don't recommend it. It almost sounds like something a shop would do if they were out of the oil you needed. Realistically it probably won't hurt a thing but I would be weary of anyone proposing that.
Thank you! I bought a new lawn mower and the dip stick with arrows. The hard to read.
Some lawn mowers such as Honda require that the stick be partly out of the engine, not all the way in. Read your manual.
Thank you this was very helpful and informative 👍👍 Is there a difference between the car being low on oil and needing an oil change?
Not sure exactly what you are asking. The level on the dip stick has nothing to do with when your oil needs changing. It only shows you if you have enough or too much oil.
Hi great video do you have any tips if cannot see where the oil line is in relation to the notches on the Dipstick??
Lay it down on a white paper towel.
Thank you! I just got my oil done and it's too low they got me. I check it this morning. They did not top off any fluids. Nor added the right amount of oil
This happens way too often. Glad I could help save you from catastrophe.
When I am checking oiling my 2010 Chrysler town and country there is a difference when you turn the dipstick 180 degrees one side reads higher than the other. Not sure if this is right or not but after reading the dipstick without turning it I just put it back into the tube. Not sure if this is the proper way to check it but it is what makes sense to me
The general recommendation is to go with the higher side. What usually happens is that one side gets kind of wiped as you remove the dip stick.
Nice video
Thank you sir.
=)Thanks!
Hi , great video, have question, left car standing all night to do accurate reading , topped up oil to get to tip of line , wired stick clean as always , but when I left stick in for a minute and pulled out shout over the full line, but when I pull out stick after few seconds show on the line I filled up too, not moved the car or started engine , is it because the oil soaks up the stick if I leave it in for longer? Or have I over filled the car? Many thanks
The oil can move up the stick from the capillary effect but generally this happens because of oil in the dip stick tube.
Thank you so much... oh and before i forget after how long should one service his or her car, after how many km exactly?!
It really depends on the car and type of oil you use. Check your car's service manual or see what the oil you are using recommends. It used to be 5000km but now most manufacturers say you should wait 12000km or longer. A lot of the synthetic oils last longer and usually tell you how long you can go between oil changes. When in doubt, go with what the oil you are using recommends and in my opinion, you should be using synthetic.
Hello
Thank you for this video
My car is 2002 Mercedes Benz c240
I don’t have deep stick
So I bought after market
Deep stick but it doesn’t mark maximum and minimum level
Just marked numbers
10~150
How can I check engine oil level up?
You have to use a guide or manual for your specific model to know. Check out this link. www.fcpeuro.com/products/mercedes-engine-oil-dipstick-tool-baum-120-0721
I never see anyone at the gas stations any more check people's oil levels.
Full service gas stations are mostly a thing of the past at this point.
How boss I got my cv axel replaced and guy said some transmission fluid came out. bout a quart to his estimate but I check and it looks its pretty good could I send you a pic of the dip stick to get your opinion
Sure. Send it to clint@quickfixman.com. Also, make sure you are checking the transmission fluid per your manual's specifications. Generally most recommend you check it while it is hot.
What if my oil level is in between the two indicators, is it still fine or I need to top up already to maximum level?
If it is in between the 2 indicators, that is perfect and you don''t need to put any oil in your car.
You don’t need to fill it right up to the full mark. That marks just there to tell you if it’s too full as long as it’s in between low and full good to go.
So if there's a very faint line it doesn't matter? I have a line all the way thru jut then it's a small line running down the stick
It's pretty common to see that small line running down the stick. Try letting the car sit for longer before checking it and usually that will go away. If you have trouble determining where the line is, lay the dip stick horizontally onto a sheet of paper or paper towel. That will make the oil line much easier to see.
does the temperature of the oil matter? should u check it after its been setting long enough for the oil to cool down or does that matter? the same way you have cold and hot readings with ur trans fluid is what i mean?
It sure can. Most cars recommend you check it when it is cold but you really have to check your owner's manual to see what the manufacturer prefers.
Every manufacturer is different. I just ran into an issue on my 04 Quest. The dip stick handle has a bend in it. That bend has to be towards the engine in order to get a proper read when removing the stick. You also MUST wait 10 minutes after shutting the vehicle off to get a proper reading. This was the first time I ever experienced this on any vehicle I ever owned. I had a Jiffy Lube that OVER FILLED my oil level every time. The vehicle called for 4.5 quarts of oil, not 5 quarts. That .5 quart causes the oil to be overfilled. I finally stopped taking my vehicle there. If someone cannot properly service my vehicle, they have no business running a business servicing vehicles.
Sorry to hear that. Oil is definitely one of those things you don't play with. Overfilling can be just as detrimental to an engine as underfilling. Glad you saved your engine.
@@ClintHolland is half a quart over really bad?
@@mem1701movies I’m with you on this.
Is there any problem with a 1/4 or 1/2 extra oil?
@@mem1701movies It depends on the answer you are looking for. In actuality, it will probably be fine. I have seen literally hundreds of over filled engines without any issues. However, over filling it could cause the oil to become aerated which could be detrimental to the engine. if it were me, I would drain a little out but you probably will be fine if you don't.
Had my oil changed at a firestone. Didnt even think to check. They charged me for an extra quart. Pulled the dipstick out, after 1,000 miles (including an autoX event that was 4 hours round trip).... to my suprise, it was overfilled. Not even like a little over, it was like WAY overfilled. Everytime i looked, which was like 10 times, the oil when at least 3+ inches past full.
Never having anyone else do oil changes on my car ever again now that I have my own jack and stands... 😒
Wow. Never heard of anyone overfilling it that much. An oil level that high can be catastrophic to an engine if it ends up becoming aerated.
Shouldnt you be topping off the oil when it is closer too the low level? I know you called that safe but wont it be preventative to top off at that point?
You absolutely can top off if it is at that level but it is also safe to continue. The rule is you should check your oil every time you fill up with gas so you should catch it with plenty of time. Also note that most manufacturers have a margin of error built in and even if it drops below that low line, you probably aren't in any danger but I wouldn't chance it.
Thank you so much, pops died before I got a chance to learn from him . It takes a village!
Aww, sorry to hear that but glad I could help.
Why does my Toyota Tacoma manual ask for 5.5 quarts with the filter, but then it shows its over full on the dipstick by half a quart..which should I go by..the manual, or the dipstick?
That has to do with oil that never fully drains back into the pan. What it means is that the initial fill at the factory was 5.5 quarts. Going forward, it will probably only take around 5 quarts to refill after an oil change. Just has to do with the oil that is in places in the engine that never full drain back into the pan.
What if my oil level is in the last dot and over it at a little? Please help.
Drain a little bit put in the middle or below the mark said full or higher dot. Too low and to high is no good.
hello sir just a question i have a gmc yukon but the dipstick has 5 dots on it and i checked it it was on the 3rd dot is it over filled
3 would actually be perfect as it is right in the middle. Anything over 5 is overfilled.
Clint Holland thanks now my head gasket is blown
Thanks for making the video! I did not know about the car needing to be on flat surfaces to check the oil, but it makes sense. I do know about double-dipping, do they won’t get me in that trick, but thanks for that, too. One thing I see is not addressed in these dipstick reading videos: sometimes the oil looks dark around the tip of the stick, but there is some lighter oil heading into the safe territory. Which shade of oil is most reliable? Also, I am told I have a cracked oil timer cap. Is that a trick of theirs? I did not see any oil under my car after being parked awhile. I also have not seen my oil needed light on the dashboard. I don’t need to know this as much, but why is too much oil bad for the engine?
There is no light telling you that your oil level is low. There may be a light telling you that your oil pressure is low but that may or may not be related to oil level. You certainly shouldn't be waiting for a light to come on to tell you to add oil. Check your dip-stick periodically.
@@njsongwriter not true. Many cars have a low oil sensor that triggers a light or message on the dash.
@@njsongwriter An oil pressure sensor is usually hooked directly to the oil pressure gauge on your car's instrument cluster. When it detects lower than normal oil levels, the pressure sensor will trigger the indicator to reflect the change on your dashboard
Many older cars don’t have an oil pressure indicator.