How Do I Check the Oil Levels in My Vehicle?

Learn How to Check Your Vehicle’s Oil 

Knowing how to check the oil levels of your Alfa Romeo regularly is a great way to make sure you’re staying on top of your vehicle’s health. Even if you don’t plan on being the one to change the oil, being aware of when you need to bring your vehicle in for servicing is a great skill to have. Fortunately, checking oil is a simple and quick process that you can do at any time! Mike Ward Alfa Romeo of South Denver in Highlands Ranch, CO, is here to help you with a quick guide on how to check your vehicle’s oil levels. If you need an oil change after discovering low oil levels, schedule an appointment with our Service Center and we will be happy to assist you! 

How Do You Check Your Oil?

Pre-Check List of Items – Before you open the hood of your vehicle to start checking oil, you should make sure you have a lint-free cloth or paper towel ready. This is for wiping off residual oil from the dipstick to get a clean read. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, we also suggest having a pair of gloves ready. Additionally, make sure that your vehicle is off before you start dealing with anything under the hood of your vehicle and it has had time to cool off if it was running previously. 

Locate the Dipstick Handle – When you are ready and have the items you need, pop the hood of your Alfa Romeo and look in the engine bay. You are looking for a handle that either has a picture of an oil can on it or is yellow. This is the oil dipstick and is what you’ll be using to evaluate your vehicle’s oil levels.

Pull Out the Dipstick, Wipe Off & Reinsert – Once you have located the dipstick, pull it out of its tube and use the cloth or paper towel you brought to wipe off the metallic part. Any oil you see at this time is not an accurate representation of how much oil is in your vehicle. After wiping off the dipstick, reinsert it back in the tube and let it sit for a couple of seconds. 

Analyzing Results & Appropriate Action – Once you have pulled the stick back out, look for little notches or markings that denote oil levels. Often there will be two lines with a little bit of space in between them. If you see oil anywhere between those two lines, you’re good to go and don’t have to worry about oil levels. However, if the oil line is on the low end of the dipstick or even below the bottom line, you need to get your vehicle in for a service. This can be damaging to your engine if left unchecked. 

(Photo Credit: iStock)