How to Check Engine Oil Easily at Home Without a Mechanic?

Not all, but many people search for how to check engine oil on the internet when their car suddenly starts shaking during drives. Is that the case with you? If yes, before you perform an engine oil check, learn about the potential causes of a shaking car first! Many a time, we are trying to treat a condition that isn’t the root cause of the problem. 

But if there is no such concern, that is good news. In that case, follow along and see how you can check the engine oil level in your ultimate mobility partner—your car—with a dipstick or even without it! So, let’s start.  

How to Check Engine Oil with a Dipstick? 

Let’s first deal with how to check engine oil in a car that comes with a dipstick. The process involves a few simple steps, such as:

1. Ensuring certain basics 
2. Locating the dipstick 
3. Pulling and cleaning the dipstick 
4. Inserting and taking a reading 
5. Finally, doing a recheck 

These steps are detailed below in a straightforward manner for a quick reading and instant action. 

1. Ensure the Basics  

Before learning and stepping into how to check oil in your car, there are a few essentials that you need to carefully ensure to get the right result from the check. These prep points are provided below. 

1. Your vehicle must be parked on level ground with no incline, as it will tilt the engine tank, giving a false result on your car’s dipstick. 

2. Make sure that you perform an engine oil level check with a warmed-up engine. However, the engine must be turned off and allowed at least 10 to 20 minutes after such warming up before you do a reading. 

3. Next, open the hood safely. Take the help of someone knowledgeable within reach, or read the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Some hoods house gas struts, standing wide open with just a little nudge. Learn about it in advance and be careful. 

Besides, don’t forget to consult the vehicle’s manual for other specific instructions, if any.  

2. Locate the Dipstick 

To learn how to check oil in cars, you first need to find the dipstick under the hood of your car. It is a long metal wand with reading marks on the hidden end inside a long case that leads to the engine oil chamber inside the car. A dipstick comes with a ringed handle, as highlighted in the image above. 

If you own a 2016 A5 TDI car, this model doesn’t come with a dipstick. You might wonder where my dipstick is. But the vehicle does provide a spot to check the engine oil manually, along with the digital dashboard method. You can easily find the dipstick tube under the hood. 

However, before you buy a dipstick, make sure you know which one you need to select. Don’t buy any product on the internet, as it might not fit the dipstick tunnel well, causing compatibility issues. 

3. Pull & Clean the Dipstick 

Once you have located the dipstick as mentioned in the section above, move on to the next step in the process of how to check engine oil. It is time to pull the stick out and completely clean the oil out of it with a fresh rag or paper towel. You cannot use the initial pull for a reading, as it often provides a false indication. 

4: Insert & Take a Reading 

Now, how to check car oil comes down to the point of revelation! This step will let you know where your car’s engine oil level actually stands. 

So, insert the clean dipstick once again in its long and narrow tube that leads to a part called the crankcase, which contains the engine oil. Leave the stick there for a few seconds and then take it slowly out without applying any force. The only thing to ensure is that it is put properly all the way down before you pull it back. 

Now, hold its oiled top up close, and check the level. Most dipsticks bear two marks, i.e., the lower one indicating the minimum value while the higher one the maximum, as shown in the image below. 

L is for low, and F is for full. Furthermore, if your dipstick features three holes (as in the image below), the rest is the same, but the hole in the middle is for the mid-oil-level, as the intuition goes. 

Most optimally, if your engine oil stands at any level between the lowest and highest holes, you are safe. Moreover, does your dipstick look completely different from whatever was mentioned so far, like the one in the image below shared by 0x001a4? 

If yes, the lowest ring is for the minimum level, while the top is for the maximum, which is pretty simple and intuitive too.

5: Wait Before Checking Again

Now, let’s move on to the next step, which is adding oil to the engine. It is the final step in how to check oil in a car. So, if the dipstick shows oil at the lower point or below, you are low on engine oil. Add a quart of oil and wait for 5-6 minutes before you recheck the level. 

Waiting before rechecking is essential, as it gives the added oil enough time to settle deeply down to the crankcase. Now, if the second check, after adding the oil, shows the level near the higher point, that is all. You don’t need to get the level right at the upper mark, but just between the low and full marks (or holes) on the dipstick to be in the safe zone. 

If you are getting the same reading from the dipstick, even after adding 2L of engine oil, and there are no visible leaks, don’t take it lightly. There might be an internal problem or damage. In that case, reach out to support or consult the vehicle’s owner’s user manual. 

In case you have overfilled the tank, jack up the vehicle and remove the excess oil manually. Or, use an oil extractor pump if you happen to have one at the moment. By the way, you don’t need to worry about it if your oil level is just a little bit higher than the upper mark.     

So, that is the entire process to check the engine oil level with a dipstick. Also, the steps generally remain the same even though your car model is old, or you bought it from a selection of used car models in 2025. The only condition is that there is a dipstick available under the hood to perform the maneuvers. 

Also Read: How to Disconnect Car Battery? Learn About the Entire Process in No Time!

How to Check Engine Oil on Vehicles Without a Dipstick? 

In this section, we will discuss how you check the engine oil level when there is no dipstick to use. In all personal vehicles where there is no dipstick, owners are provided a way to check it digitally on the infotainment system. Generally, it involves. 

1. Warming up the car engine with a small drive up to 30 minutes. 
2. Keeping the engine running after the drive.
3. Going to Service > Levels > Oil level or similar options on the onboard computer for a quick reading, along with the instructions on how much oil to add.  

Follow for an elaboration. 

1. Warm up the Engine  

The first step in how to check engine oil without a dipstick is to warm up your car’s engine. So, go for a 30-minute drive. Warming up is a must as it enables the engine to reach the right conditions for optimal cooperation with the car’s infotainment system. It will allow the onboard computer to accurately check the level of the engine oil. 

2. Keep the Engine Running 

Once the ride is complete, don’t turn the engine off, unlike the process of how to check oil level in cars with a dipstick. You don’t have to turn the car off when it has an advanced onboard system to check the engine oil level. Your vehicle has to be up and running throughout the process until you get the reading. 

3. Find the Oil Level in Your Car’s Onboard Computer 

While the engine is running after a short drive, work on a few settings as mentioned below to learn about the oil status. These steps might vary from one car model to another. But the basic idea or procedure remains the same. Check the vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific guidance. 

1. Go to “Car” or “Service” from the menu on the onboard computer.
2. Find “Levels” under the selected category. 
3. Locate and select “Oil Level”.

After the 3rd step, it will either guide you specifically to proceed further or instantly show the engine oil level. It is always a good habit to check your engine oil on a regular basis to boost the performance and life of your automobile’s heart—the engine. 

Sometimes, an electronic gauge might malfunction and show that the engine is full even though you have found a visible oil leak. In that case, if you can’t accurately find and fix the problem yourself, take the car to the service center as soon as possible. A leak can be serious, and thus it must never be ignored, even if it might seem small.  

Also Read: 10 Best Car Air Fresheners of 2025: Top Picks for a Fresh Ride

Conclusion 

So, the process of how to check engine oil with or without a dipstick isn’t that challenging with easy-to-follow instructions as provided above. Monitoring the oil level at regular intervals is essential to keep the engine well-lubricated and thus healthy. However, if the vehicle indicates a low level frequently, you might be having a serious leak. In that case, get it inspected by a professional mechanic in the service center without any delay.  

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