How To Check Car Oil

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and you should always maintain proper oil levels in order to protect the engine’s moving parts. Read on to learn more about how to check your car’s oil in the following guide from the service team at Cooley Mazda. We look forward to helping you keep your vehicle out on the road in Troy for years to come.

Learn How To Check The Oil Level In Your Car

Some newer vehicles have electronic oil monitors that don’t use traditional dipsticks, so start by checking your owner’s manual for the automaker’s recommendations. If you’re checking the oil manually, simply follow these steps:

1. Ensure the vehicle is parked on level ground and the engine is turned off and cold.
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Pull the dipstick out of the engine and wipe any oil from the end of it.
4. Reinsert the dipstick all the way back into its tube, then pull it out and examine both sides to determine the level.

Dipsticks always 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, the level is good. If it isn’t, you’ll need to add more oil.

Be sure to buy the grade recommended in the owner’s manual, remove the oil filler cap, and then add oil a little at a time until the dipstick indicates you’ve reached the proper level.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Although oil is often overlooked, the right oil level is absolutely essential to your vehicle’s performance. Generally, oil changes are recommended at least twice a year, depending on the model and driving conditions. Oil checks should be performed at least once a month. This way, you can always feel confident that there are no leaks, and that your car has enough oil for all your journeys through Albany. That being said, if you notice your car’s hood is hot to the touch or steam is billowing out from under the hood, schedule a service appointment without delay—your car may have an oil leak and be overheating. 

How To Reset Oil Change Light

While each vehicle has a specific process for resetting the oil change light, the general process is the same. However, you’ll only want to reset the oil change light if you’ve actually changed your oil. If you accidentally miss an oil change, it can cause long-term damage to your car.

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

• Turn off all systems in your car, but leave the engine running.
• Locate the “reset” button or stick on the dashboard (typically located near the speedometer and fuel gauge).
• Hold the button down until the oil change light begins to flash (signs of resetting may differ per vehicle).
• Turn the ignition off, wait a few seconds, then turn your car back on.

At this point, the oil light should be reset. If you have any questions regarding how to reset your oil change light, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Cooley Mazda Will Keep Your Car In Prime Condition

Offering service specials and expert advice, our service team in Rensselaer is always ready to help. Schedule service with us today or contact us online for further assistance. We hope to be your go-to car service resource near Latham.

We are currently updating our Specials. Please check back soon.