How to Check Car Oil

Learning how to check the oil level in a car only takes a minute — especially if you’re driving with Chevrolet. Vehicles from recent model years include the Chevrolet Oil Life Monitor (OLM), which allows you to get an accurate estimate of your oil life right from your driver’s seat. We’ll show you how to check a car’s oil using this new technology below, and we’ll also run through the basics of using a classic dipstick. 

How to Check the Oil Level with Your Chevy Oil Life Monitor

Your Chevrolet vehicle will automatically display a warning on the dashboard when your motor oil only has 15% of its life remaining. However, you can easily check your car’s oil level at any time. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Turn your key to the “ON” position without starting the vehicle. Your lights and electronic systems will turn on, but your engine should remain off.
2. Press the left arrow on your steering wheel-mounted controls. Keep going until you see “INFO.” 
3. Then, press the up arrow until “OIL LIFE” is displayed. Hit “SELECT” to check your level.

Checking your remaining oil life is useful, but it might not tell you everything you need to know! Familiarize yourself with all of the warning lights in your Chevrolet, or contact our service center if you’re surprised by what you find.

How to Reset Your Oil Change Light

If you’ve performed an oil change at home in Sicklerville or Sewell, you can reset your oil change light by following the steps above. After hitting “SELECT,” press and hold the “CHECK” button until the oil life display resets and displays a reading of 100%. If you schedule service at Chevrolet Of Turnersville, we’ll take care of this step for you.

How to Check the Oil Level in a Car with a Dipstick

Even if your car has an electronic oil monitor, it’s a good idea to learn how to use a dipstick. Although some vehicles no longer offer this feature, using the dipstick is a great way to catch leaks or detect engine issues before they balloon into major problems. Here’s how to get an accurate read on your oil level today:

1. Park the vehicle on level ground and let the engine cool for 20 minutes or so.
2. Open the hood and locate the dipstick. It’s usually located just to the left or the right of the engine block, but you can check your owner’s manual if you’re not sure.
3. Pull the dipstick out of its sheath, and wipe it down with a clean, lint-free rag. Then, return it to its original place.
4. Now that the dipstick is clean, you can get an accurate read. Draw it out once more to check your car’s oil level. 
5. Look for the ‘full’ line or a cross-hatched area with ‘Minimum’ and ‘Maximum’ designations. This will tell you where your level should be!

If the oil level is higher or lower than it should be, add more oil carefully using a funnel. Check your owner’s manual to find out what kind of oil to use, or speak with an expert at our parts department. If your oil smells burnt or has small metal particles suspended within it, schedule service as soon as possible.

Why Check Your Car’s Oil Level?

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle; driving with old, overused oil or letting your oil level fall too low can have devastating effects on your vehicle’s performance and longevity. Learning how to check the oil level in a car can help you preserve your vehicle for years to come, and as far as we’re concerned, it’s something that every driver should know how to do.

Checking your car’s oil level is important, and changing your oil is too — but these aren’t your only responsibilities. Explore the Chevy maintenance schedule with our team to prepare for ownership.

From Oil Changes to Major Repairs, We Have You Covered!

We know that the most satisfied service customers are those who truly understand what’s going on under the hood! That’s why we’re so happy to share our best service tips and tricks with drivers in Turnersville and Williamstown. If you’re ready to make an appointment with our team, check out our Chevy service specials today.