If you have never checked your engine oil before, the dipstick can look a bit mysterious. Once you know which end to read and what the two marks mean, the job becomes much easier. You do not need to get underneath the car or take anything apart.
This guide walks you through a normal dipstick check, with pictures and examples of low, halfway and full oil levels. Your car’s handbook comes first: it tells you where to find the dipstick, whether to check the engine warm or cold, and how long to wait after switching it off. Some cars use a dashboard oil-level display instead; there is a short explanation of those further down.
If an oil-pressure warning comes on while the engine is running, stop somewhere safe, switch the engine off and get help. Do not keep driving just because the dipstick shows oil. That warning needs a different response from an ordinary level check.
What you need before you start
- Your car’s handbook, or the correct online handbook for its model and engine.
- A clean cloth that does not leave fluff behind.
- A level place to park and enough light to see the markings.
That is enough for checking. You only need a bottle of oil if the reading shows that a top-up is needed, and it must be the right oil for your engine. If you do not know which one to buy, ask before pouring anything in.
First, meet the dipstick
The dipstick is a long, thin piece of metal that slides into a tube on the engine. You pull it out using its small handle. The handle is often yellow or orange, but colours vary, so use the picture in your handbook to identify the right one.
The important part is the end that goes into the engine. It has two marks: a minimum and a maximum. They may say MIN and MAX, or they may be two holes, two lines or the ends of a patterned section. The oil leaves a wet coating on this part. Where that coating ends tells you the level.
How to check your engine oil, step by step
1. Park on level ground and switch the engine off
A slope can make the reading misleading. Choose a flat spot, put the parking brake on and switch the vehicle and ignition fully off. An engine that has paused at a stop is not the same as a car that has been switched off. Read your handbook’s checking instructions before starting: there is no single waiting time that suits every car.
If the engine has been running, parts under the bonnet may be hot. Keep your hands away from hot surfaces, belts and fans. A cooling fan can start unexpectedly, even after the engine is switched off.
2. Open the bonnet and find the dipstick
Release the bonnet using the lever inside the car, then find the safety catch at the front. Make sure the bonnet is properly supported before reaching underneath it. If you are unsure how the support works, get someone to show you first.
Find the engine oil dipstick using the handbook. The dipstick handle is for checking the level. The oil filler cap is a separate item used when adding oil. You do not need to open any filler caps just to take a dipstick reading.
3. Pull it out and wipe the end clean
Hold the handle and gently draw the dipstick all the way out. Wipe the measuring end with your clean cloth. This removes oil that may have splashed onto it and gives you a clean starting point.
4. Put it all the way back in
Slide it back into the same tube until the handle is fully seated. A dipstick left partly out can give a wrong reading. Be gentle; it should not need to be forced.
5. Pull it out again and look for the oil line
This second pull is the one to read. Hold the measuring end where you can see it clearly. Look for the point where the continuous wet coating finishes, then compare that point with MIN and MAX.
Ignore a stray splash further up the stick. If everything looks smeared or you cannot see a clear edge, wipe it and repeat the check. It is fine to do it twice rather than guess.
6. Refit the dipstick when you have finished
Put it fully back into its tube. Check that you have removed your cloth and any other items from the engine bay, then close the bonnet securely. If the reading was low or unusual, follow the advice below before deciding what to do next.
What do low, halfway and full look like?
The pictures below show three common readings. The amber area represents the wet oil coating; the silver area is dry. Your oil may be darker or lighter. Look at where the coating ends rather than expecting it to match the colour in the picture.
Low: the oil reaches MIN
If the wet coating finishes at the minimum mark, a top-up is needed according to your handbook’s instructions. If it is below MIN, the level is too low. Recheck under the correct conditions and deal with it before continuing to use the car.
Example: you wipe the stick, put it fully back and pull it out again. The oil ends right at the lower mark. That is a low reading, even though there is still oil on the stick.
If the measuring end is dry, avoid starting the engine or driving to buy oil. A dry dipstick does not prove the engine contains no oil, but it is not a safe reading to ignore. Ask for help rather than guessing how much to add.
Halfway: the oil is between MIN and MAX
This is normally within the acceptable range, subject to your car’s handbook. You do not usually need to add oil simply to move a healthy midway reading up to MAX.
Example: the oil stops halfway across the marked section. You might describe it as “half full”, but the engine is not half empty. The dipstick marks show a small checking range, not the engine’s entire oil capacity.
Full: the oil reaches MAX
A reading at MAX is the upper limit. Do not add more oil. Filling above that mark can cause problems; a little extra is not a useful precaution.
Example: the wet coating ends exactly at the top mark. Refit the dipstick and leave the oil level alone. If it repeatedly reads above MAX under the correct checking conditions, get advice before running the engine.
How to top up without overdoing it
Only top up once you have confirmed the reading and the correct oil for your car. Leave the vehicle switched off, let the engine cool as your handbook requires, and avoid spilling oil onto hot engine parts. Check the oil’s required specification as well as the familiar numbers on the bottle. If that sounds confusing, our guide to choosing the correct engine oil explains it, or you can call us with your vehicle details.
- Identify the oil filler cap. Use the handbook, not a guess. Do not pour oil into the dipstick tube, coolant tank or another reservoir.
- Add a small amount. Follow your handbook’s instructions and use a clean funnel if needed. Do not tip in the whole bottle.
- Allow it to settle and check again. Follow the required waiting time, then repeat the wipe, refit and read process.
- Stop within the correct range. Stay below or at MAX, never above it. Replace the filler cap and dipstick securely and clean up any spill before starting the engine.
Do not assume every car needs a litre between MIN and MAX. The amount varies. Likewise, a handbook figure for the engine’s total oil capacity is not the amount to add during a top-up. If you have used the wrong oil, poured it into the wrong opening or added too much, leave the engine off and ask for help.
What if your car has no dipstick?
Some cars measure the oil electronically and show the result in the dashboard or vehicle settings. Use the oil-level section of your handbook: the display may need a particular engine temperature or waiting time before it gives a fresh reading.
An “oil life” percentage or “service due” message is different from an oil-level reading. If the screen says the measurement is unavailable, do not guess a top-up. Follow the instructions or ask someone who knows the system.
A few questions people ask the first time
Should I check the oil hot or cold?
Check your own handbook. Some instructions use a cold engine; others require it to be warmed up and then switched off for a set time. Whatever the method, do not remove a conventional dipstick with the engine running.
Does dark oil mean I need an oil change?
Colour alone does not tell you when the oil needs changing. Follow the car’s oil-change schedule and service record. A top-up adds oil; it does not replace old oil or the filter. Read the difference between topping up and an oil change if you are unsure.
How often should I check?
Use the interval in your handbook and check before a longer journey where recommended. If you often find it low, make a note of the mileage and how much you add, then arrange an assessment. Repeatedly topping up should not become a way of ignoring a leak or another problem.
Still unsure about the reading?
If you are near Gosport and would like help, call Fast Car Service on 02393 552182. Tell us your registration and what you have found: “at the bottom mark”, “above the top mark” or “no oil showing” is a useful starting point. Call before setting off if you are worried the car is unsafe to run.
We are at Unit 31, Gosport Basepoint Centre, and open 7am–7pm every day. If an oil and filter change in Gosport is due, we can confirm suitable work and availability over the phone. You can also see our address and directions.
For further reference, see GOV.UK’s vehicle safety checks and Toyota UK’s oil-checking guide. The illustrations show a typical dipstick; your car’s own markings and handbook instructions decide how its level should be checked.