How to check and top up your engine oil
Low engine oil can cause serious, expensive engine damage. Checking it takes two minutes with the dipstick, and topping up is simple if you use the right oil.
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Low cost
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Clean cloth or kitchen roll
- The correct engine oil for your car (check the handbook for the grade and specification) Search Amazon for engine oil 5w30
- Funnel Search Amazon for car funnel
- Disposable gloves
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Safety first
- If the red oil pressure warning light comes on while driving, stop as soon as it's safe and switch off the engine. Driving on can wreck the engine.
- Hot engine parts and oil can burn you. Let the engine cool if you've been driving.
- Using the wrong grade of oil can harm your engine and affect your warranty. Check the handbook.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Park on level ground and wait
Park on a flat surface and switch off the engine. Check your handbook: most manufacturers say to wait a few minutes after switching off so the oil drains back into the sump, and some say to check when the engine is cold. Some newer cars have no dipstick and show the oil level on the dashboard instead.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Find the dipstick
Open the bonnet. The dipstick usually has a brightly coloured (often yellow or orange) loop or handle. Your handbook shows where it is.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Wipe and reinsert
Pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean with the cloth. Push it all the way back into its tube, then pull it out again.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Read the level
Look at where the oil film reaches. There are two marks, minimum and maximum. Between the two is fine. If it's at or below the minimum, it needs topping up straight away.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Top up if needed
Find the oil filler cap on top of the engine, usually marked with an oil can symbol. Unscrew it and, using a funnel, add a little oil at a time, then wait a minute and recheck the dipstick. Stop when the level is near, but not above, the maximum mark. Overfilling can damage the engine too.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Close everything up
Replace the filler cap firmly and push the dipstick fully home. Wipe up any spills, and close the bonnet.
Tips
- The Highway Code suggests checking your vehicle's fluid levels at least weekly. Checking oil before a long journey is a good habit at the very least.
- Note how much oil you add each time. If you're topping up often, get it checked.
- Take used oil and empty containers to your council's household waste recycling centre. Never pour oil down drains.
When to call a professional
See a garage if the oil level drops quickly, the oil looks milky or creamy (which can mean a head gasket problem), there are oil puddles under the car, or the oil warning light stays on after topping up.
Questions people ask
How often should I check my oil?
The Highway Code advises checking fluid levels at least weekly. At the very least, check before long journeys.
What colour should engine oil be?
New oil is amber. It darkens with use, which is normal. Milky oil or oil with a gritty feel needs a garage's attention.
Can I mix different brands of oil?
Generally yes, as long as the grade and specification match what your handbook requires.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-check-engine-oil/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.