Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the hole at the tip of the dipstick,
then you will need to add up to two quarts of oil. But
you must use the right kind. This section explains what
kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity,
see
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-98
.
Notice:
Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
mark that shows the proper operating range,
your engine could be damaged.
See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for
the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level near the
upper hole in the dipstick. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you are through.
5-14