What is an Oil Level Check?
Catch a low engine before it catches fire — a 60-second check every fortnight.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
Engine oil lubricates the moving parts inside your engine and helps carry heat away. The level naturally drops slightly over time, and a low level can cause serious — sometimes terminal — engine damage. The dipstick is a long metal rod with a brightly coloured handle (often yellow or orange) sticking out of the top of the engine.
"Think of it like checking the water in a kettle before you boil it dry."
How it works
Park on level ground, with the engine OFF and ideally cold (or wait 10 minutes after switching off so the oil drains back into the sump). Pull the dipstick all the way out and wipe it clean with a paper towel or rag. Push it fully back in, then pull it out again. Look at the end: there are two marks (MIN and MAX, sometimes shown as L and H or two dots). The oil film should sit between them. If it's near or below MIN, top up with the correct grade of oil (check your handbook — common grades include 5W-30 and 0W-20) a little at a time via the oil filler cap on top of the engine.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Oil warning light (the red oil-can symbol) on the dash
- ⚠A ticking or knocking noise from the engine
- ⚠Burning oil smell
- ⚠Blue smoke from the exhaust
- ⚠Engine feels rougher than usual
£0 to check; £8–£25 to top up
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.