How to Check Car Oil

You know that you need to be following the regular service schedule laid out in your owner’s manual, but you might not be aware of how important it is to know how to check a car’s oil on your own! After all, if you’re only scheduling oil changes once or twice (or even more times) per year, there’s a lot that can go wrong in between your visits. That goes double for the Jersey City region’s most adventurous Land Rover drivers.

Don’t fret. We’ll show you how to use your dipstick and how to check your oil levels using your Land Rover model’s electronic oil monitor below.

How to Check the Oil Level in a Car: Any Make

If your car has a dipstick — some newer models no longer include them — checking your oil level is as easy as popping open the hood. However, even if you think you know how to check the oil level in a car, you need to make sure that you’re doing so accurately. Here’s how to get the job done right:

1. Park the vehicle on level ground and turn the engine off. Give it time to cool down.
2. Open the hood of the vehicle, and locate the dipstick. It’s almost always just to the left or the right of the engine.
3. Pull the dipstick out of its sheath. Wipe it clean using a rag you have on hand.
4. Now simply place the dipstick back into its sheath, and draw it out once more.
5. Check to see if the oil is visible between the min and max lines on your dipstick, or if it comes up to a point within the crosshatched area.

If you’re running low, make sure to pick up fresh oil that’s appropriate for your vehicle. (If you’re near Fort Lee or Weehawken, find what you’re looking for at our parts department.) Add more slowly, with a funnel, using your dipstick to check the level as you go.

Using Your Land Rover SUV’s Electronic Oil Monitor

Your Land Rover vehicle includes an electronic oil monitor, so you can check your oil levels quickly and easily without ever getting under the hood. Here’s how it works:

1. Park your Land Rover on level ground and turn off your ignition. Give it 10 minutes to settle, but don’t wait much longer.
2. Turn your key to position one, so that your electronic systems come on. Don’t start the engine.
3. Make sure that you’re in park, then cycle through your options until you see either “Service Menu” or “Vehicle Information”
4. Then, select “Oil Level.” The system will give you a reading and tell you how much you need to add.

Now that you’ve got a sense of how to check your oil level, find out how often you should rotate your tires.

Let Our Service Experts Show You How It’s Done!

Now that you’ve seen how to check the oil levels in a car at home, you might be ready to learn more about DIY car care and tackle even tougher tasks like knowing how often to change your oil. Or, you may have realized that it’s time to schedule service! No matter what you need, our team is here to help.