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What Is the Best Time to Check My Engine Oil?
I’m confused. I heard that I shouldn’t check my oil right after driving, but I didn’t know it mattered. When exactly should I check my engine oil?
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Taking good care of your car’s oil can be a bit confusing.
It’s true that most car manufacturers don’t recommend checking your oil when the engine is “hot”. Generally, about 5-10 minutes after shutting off the engine is the best time to check your oil. This gives the oil a chance to settle in the oil pan so you can get an accurate reading.
Some cars now are designed to still give an accurate oil reading even when the engine is hot, but this is not overly common. You can check your owner’s manual to see if a hot oil check is permissible. Unless it says otherwise though, checking while your engine is cold will be best.
It’s important to keep a close eye on your oil levels since low oil can seriously damage your engine. It is typically a good idea to check your oil every other gas fill-up. However, if you have a leak, you should check it more often.
Follow these steps to check your oil:
- Wait for the engine to cool
- Pop the hood and locate your dipstick
- Pull out the dipstick and wipe it off
- Put the dipstick all the way back in
- Pull the dipstick back out
- See where the mark from the oil is - that is your oil level
- If you see that the oil is below the minimum mark, add more
While you’re waiting for your engine to cool, take those few extra minutes and save hundreds on your
car insurance
rates. How? That’s the easy part! Download the free
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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