Checking your engine oil is a two-minute task that can prevent a several-thousand-dollar repair. It doesn't require a mechanic or any tools, and it gives you meaningful information about your engine’s health. It's also one of the most consistently skipped maintenance habits we see.
Why oil matters
Your engine has hundreds of metal components moving against each other at high speed and high temperature. Oil creates a thin lubricating film that keeps those surfaces separated. When oil gets low — or degrades past its useful life — that film breaks down. The heat and friction that follow cause cumulative damage that's often irreversible.
How to check it
Park on level ground. Let the engine cool for a few minutes if it's been running. Pop the hood, locate the dipstick (usually a yellow or orange handle), pull it out and wipe it clean, then reinsert it fully and pull it out again. Check the level against the MIN and MAX lines — you want to be somewhere in between, ideally close to MAX. Also, look at the oil's color: fresh oil is clear amber. Dark brown or black means it's overdue for a change.
What low oil actually looks like
If you're below the MIN line, add oil. The type and viscosity are in your owner's manual (it's also often printed on the oil cap). Don't overfill — too much oil creates its own problems.
If you're checking regularly and consistently finding it low between changes, that's worth paying attention to. Either your engine is burning oil, which shows up as blue-tinted exhaust smoke, or it's leaking, which may or may not leave visible spots where you park. Either one is worth mentioning to your shop.
When to bring it in
If the oil on your dipstick looks milky or foamy, stop driving and call us. That's a sign of coolant mixing with oil — usually a head gasket issue — and continuing to drive makes it significantly worse. If it's extremely dark and gritty, it's overdue for a change. If you can smell something burning around the engine and you haven't recently changed your oil, check the level.
At ProAuto, we check all fluid levels during every service visit. We'll flag anything we see and tell you what it means — without turning it into an upsell.
ProAuto | 6100 W Dempster St, Morton Grove, IL 60053 | (847) 232-7777
Serving Morton Grove, Skokie, Niles, Glenview, Northbrook, and the North Shore.
