How to Read an Oil Dipstick
To read an oil dipstick, simply pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, reinsert it, and take it out again—if the oil is below the lowest line, you need to add oil.
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- How to read an oil dipstick?
- Why do you need the right oil level?
- Signs to replace engine oil
- How to find cheap car insurance
- FAQs
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To read an oil dipstick, you’ll need to park on a level surface, lift the hood, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert the dipstick, pull it back out, and check where the oil level lies. If it sits somewhere between the two lines or markings at the end of the dipstick, the level is fine—but if the oil sits at or below the lower line, you’ll need to add a quart of oil.
Though it may seem trivial, knowing how to read an oil dipstick will help ensure that you don’t end up under- or overfilling your car’s oil tank, keeping your engine in good working order for longer periods.
But if you’ve never checked your car’s oil level before, don’t worry—
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How to read an oil dipstick?
Checking your oil level by reading an oil dipstick is one of the easiest maintenance tasks to master. It’s a skill that carries over to checking the level of other vehicle fluids, such as automatic transmission fluid or brake fluid. Follow the steps below for a comprehensive walkthrough:
Check your owner’s manual
The first thing you should do is check your owner’s manual—this will give you a better idea of what to expect when you lift the hood.
Park on a level surface
To get an accurate reading, you’ll need to park your vehicle on a flat surface or on level ground. If your vehicle was already parked on a flat surface, it’s a good idea to start your car and let the engine run for a few minutes to get the oil warmed up—depending on the type of dipstick you have, this may or may not be necessary.
Lift the vehicle’s hood
Once your vehicle is parked and the engine has cooled enough to minimize the risk of accidentally burning yourself, open up the hood.
Find and remove the oil dipstick
Generally speaking, the oil dipstick should be easy to find—most vehicles mark theirs with a small oil can symbol and the handle is usually a bright yellow or orange. Once you’ve located the dipstick, pull it free from the dipstick-tube—it should feel a bit like pulling a sword out of a sheath.
Wipe it clean
Now, you may be tempted to try and read the dipstick right when you pull it out the first time, but that’s not actually the case—you should always wipe the end of the dipstick off first with a rag or paper towel before slowly reinserting it back into the tube. This will help ensure that your reading is as accurate as possible.
Read the oil level
Pull the dipstick back out of the tube and read the oil level. If the oil is in-between the two lines on the dipstick, your oil level is fine—but if the oil is below the lower line (which is usually marked “ADD”), you’ll need to add a quart. If you find that the oil is just barely above the lower line, you might decide to top up by adding a little oil to the tank just to stay on the safe side.
Not all dipsticks, however, use these lines—some use holes or dots. Typically, these types of dipsticks will have four holes: the topmost hole indicates the “full mark” when the oil is hot while the hole below it indicates the “full” mark when the oil is cold. The uppermost of the bottom two holes indicates the “low/add” mark when the oil is hot, whereas the lowest hole indicates the “low/add” mark when the oil is cold.
Check for good engine oil
Of course, even if you have enough oil in the reservoir, it’s a good idea to check the condition of the oil itself. As a general rule, dark brown or black colored oil means you may need a change, but this isn’t always the case, as the additives in some oils can change the color prematurely.
For this reason, it is best to simply change your oil at the recommended intervals listed in your owner’s manual.
Return the oil dipstick
Once you’ve got your dipstick reading and have checked that your oil is in good condition, you can return the oil dipstick and shut the hood. If you added oil, it’s a good idea to check the oil level a second time to make sure that enough of the new oil was added.
MORE: How to test an oil pump
Why do you need the right oil level?
If you don’t have the right amount of oil in your tank—specifically if you have too little oil—you run the risk of severely damaging your engine. This is because motor oil helps cool your engine and aids in the proper lubrication of the engine’s various parts, preventing undue wear and tear while keeping your engine from overheating.
That said, you also don’t want to overfill your engine oil, as this will increase the oil pressure and put more stress on the gaskets and seals, putting you at higher risk for an oil leak.
Signs to replace engine oil
Of course, a low reading on your oil dipstick isn’t the only sign that you need an oil change—you’ll also want to keep a lookout for the following symptoms of contaminated or insufficient motor oil:
- The oil has taken on a grainy or gritty texture
- Oil has changed from warm amber to a dark brown or black color
- Abnormal sounds (e.g. knocking, banging, whining, etc.) coming from the engine
- An oily, smoky, or burning smell coming from the engine
If you start to notice one or more of the aforementioned symptoms or find that your oil level is low, you’ll need to change your oil to avoid unnecessary (and costly) engine damage.
How to find cheap car insurance
Knowing how to read an engine oil dipstick is an easy way to keep your vehicle in good working order, helping you cut down on costly automotive expenses—another easy way to reduce your vehicle-related expenses is with licensed
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What do the marks on a dipstick mean?
At the end of most dipsticks, you should see two marks or lines—these lines that tell you whether your engine needs more oil. The uppermost line tells us that the crankcase (or the oil tank) is full, whereas the lower line means a quart of oil needs to be added—if the level of oil falls somewhere between the two lines, no oil needs to be added.
How do you read a dipstick with holes?
Of course, not all dipsticks have lines—some use holes. If you have a dipstick with four holes, all you need to know to read it is this: the topmost hole signifies the “full” mark when the oil is hot, while the hole directly below it signifies the “full” mark when the oil is cold. Similarly, the uppermost of the lowest holes signify the “low/add” mark when the oil is hot, whereas the bottommost hole signifies the “low/add” mark when the oil is cold.
Is there a way to check the engine oil level without using a dipstick?
Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to check your car engine oil level without using a dipstick—at least, if your vehicle doesn’t use electronic sensors, that is. If your vehicle was intentionally designed without a dipstick, chances are you can check your oil level electronically, via your dashboard or touchscreen menu.
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