For both teens and adults, knowing how to check our oil is something we often take for granted. We assume that our vehicle will actually tell us when it needs to be serviced rather than using our own knowledge and preparedness to ensure that our vehicle has enough oil and is running smoothly before a problem occurs. Checking the oil in your vehicle can seem like a somewhat intimidating task, but with our teen driving video, it will seem a little bit easier and is a task that you will be able to do on your own. By routinely and frequently checking your vehicle’s oil, you will actually be extending the life of your vehicle. Oil is like the blood of your car. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to drive.

In order to check your own oil, you should know the steps and the order in which they go. This will make what may seem like a tough process go smooth and become a regular part of your driving habits. First, be sure that your vehicle is parked on a level surface, as you don’t want all of the oil running to the back end of the car because it is leaning backwards. Then, open the hood and find the dipstick. The dipstick is a long rod meant to go deep into your engine to check where the level of oil is at. It tends to be very easy to get to under the hood – and it should have an orange or other brightly colored handle. Some even say “oil” right on them for easy access. Before beginning, make sure you also have enough lighting. Because sometimes the oil is hard to see on the dipstick, be sure you have parked the vehicle in a well-lighted space. Now, you’re ready for the fun part. Prop your hood safely and securely and wipe the end of the dipstick with an oil rag or towel. You do not want to have oil residue or other fluids left on the stick because it could throw off where you think the oil level in your vehicle is and where it actually is. Re-insert the dipstick into the engine, making sure it goes all the way in. Now pull it out, but don’t turn it upside down to look at it, this makes the oil run upward and ruins your reading. The dipstick will have two marks at the bottom. They are usually either lines or holes in the stick. You can read the oil level here by looking to see where the oily part ends and the dry part begins. If it’s between the two marks, you can continue driving the car. If it happens to show below the bottom mark, you need to add a quart of oil, or see your trusted auto repair shop here in the Tempe area.

Changing the oil can be more difficult than just checking it. We offer quick and convenient oil changes which come with a free safety check each time we open your hood. It is important to choose a trustworthy auto repair shop to change your oil. If adding some oil yourself, choose something recommended or require per your manufacturer’s handbook. Never add more than a quart at once without driving and taking a new reading of the oil level. Overfilling the engine can be messy and inexperienced drivers should leave an oil change up to a trusted mechanic. To visually watch the process or share with your new teen driver, we have an informational video about checking oil on our teen driving page.