Toyota of Clermont’s guide to check car oil

Oil is one of the most important fluids you’ll ever put in your car. At Toyota of Clermont, we’re huge advocates of staying on an oil change schedule, as well as using the right type for your vehicle and also ensuring that you’re checking the oil in between appointments. But do you know how to check car oil properly on your own? Our Clermont Toyota service techs put together a guide for you – check it out.

A guide to checking car oil properly

If you’re going to check car oil on your own, you need to know how to do it correctly. Here are the step-by-step instructions straight from the experts at our Clermont auto service center.

Step #1: Turn off your vehicle so it can cool down.

It’s best to check your car’s oil when the engine has had time to cool off. Give your car a chance to do so and ensure that you’re parked on a flat, even surface where you’ll have space to work.

Step #2: Pop the hood of your car and find the oil dipstick in the engine.

When you look at the engine, you’ll see a ring or a pull sticking out of it. This is the dipstick, and this is the tool you’ll use to check your car’s oil.

Step #3: Pull the dipstick out of the engine. You should wipe the dipstick on a clean rag and reinsert it into the engine. Pull it out again and examine what’s on the dipstick, keeping the following in mind:

The color of the oil. You need to know how to read oil color to determine what’s going on under the hood. If the oil is dark, dark brown or black, or you can see flecks of dirt in it, then you’re due for an oil change. If the oil is milky in color, you may have coolant leaking into it. Clean motor oil should be caramel or honey in color.

The level of the oil. You’ll see two tic marks or two dots at the end of the dipstick. The oil level should fall in between those two tic marks or dots. If it’s below the bottom mark, then it’s too low and you either need to add motor oil or schedule an oil change for your car – low oil can indicate leaks or other issues.

Step #4: Put the oil dipstick back and decide whether or not you need an oil change or for one of our auto service advisors to take a look under the hood and look for other issues.

And there you have it! Here are a few other tips from our Clermont Toyota service experts for when you’re learning how to check car oil properly:

• Your car takes a certain type of motor oil. We can help you figure out what you need, or you can check your owner’s manual or the Toyota app. You should also keep in mind that the type of oil your Clermont Toyota needs could change over time; older vehicles or high-mileage vehicles may need high-mileage oil to ensure the best performance.
• Oil is absolutely critical to performance. It keeps the engine lubricated so parts don’t wear out as quickly, prevents the engine from overheating, and helps keep the engine clean by preventing dirt buildup.
• Your oil change schedule can be determined by the time in between changes OR the mileage. Our Clermont auto service techs can get you on a schedule and remind you when you’re due for your next oil change (and they can let you know the parameters for both mileage and time). You can also keep track of oil change appointments in the Toyota app.
• You do need to get oil changes even if you’re not driving the car very often. You may not have hit the mileage limit, but your car will need an oil change at some point regardless as time goes by.

Get your oil change scheduled at Toyota of Clermont

Still have questions? We’ve got answers straight from our experts, so call us. The Toyota of Clermont service center is open seven days a week at (352) 404-7001 and we’re just off the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50. You can also schedule service online and see all of our money-saving service specials!