After adding oil to your car, the crucial next steps involve ensuring the vehicle is properly positioned, allowing time for the oil to settle, and re-checking the oil level accurately.
Post-Oil Addition Checks
Once you have added oil to your engine, it's important to verify the level and ensure everything is correct before driving. The key actions following the addition of oil, according to the provided reference, are centered around performing an accurate re-check of the oil level.
Here are the steps to follow:
1. Ensure Proper Vehicle Positioning
- Park on Level Ground: Once you have your oil, make sure your car is again parked on level ground. This is critical for getting an accurate reading on the dipstick. Parking on a slope will cause the oil level to be skewed.
2. Allow Engine to Cool and Oil to Settle
- Cool Engine: Your engine should be cool. Adding oil to a hot engine can be dangerous, and checking the level requires the oil to be settled.
- Wait for Drainage: You should wait at least 20 minutes to give the oil time to drain fully back into the sump. This settling time ensures that the dipstick reading reflects the true amount of oil in the crankcase, not oil still circulating or clinging to engine components.
3. Re-Check the Oil Level
- Use the Dipstick: Check the level again using the dipstick. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it fully, and then remove it again to observe the oil level against the 'full' and 'add' marks.
- Add Small Amounts if Needed: Keep adding oil in small amounts until you are happy with the level. It's better to add a little at a time and re-check than to overfill the engine, which can cause its own set of problems.
By following these steps, you confirm that your engine has the correct amount of oil, ensuring proper lubrication and preventing potential damage. This re-check process is a vital part of completing an oil top-off or change.
