How to change or top up car engine oil
Car maintenance matters, topping up your engine oil when it is required is really important for your car.
Engine oil pressure too low: what to do
How to top up your engine oil
If dipstick tells you that your oil level is low, you should top up your engine oil as soon as possible.
The first step in doing this is to make sure you add the right oil. Your car's user manual can help with this, or you can also use our quick and easy Oil Finder tool.
Once you have your oil, make sure your car is again parked on level ground. Your engine should be cool, and you should wait at least 20 minutes to give the oil time to drain fully back into the sump.
1. Check the oil level again to see how much oil is required
2. Unscrew and remove the oil filler cap
Car engine oil filler cap
3. You should then add a small amount of fresh oil, ideally using a long-neck funnel, and then wait a minute or two for it to arrive in the sump
4. Check the level again using the dipstick, and keep adding oil in small amounts until you are happy with the level.
Bear in mind that over-filling is as bad for your engine as under-filling; so don't treat the high level mark as a target. It's best to aim for a little below this line.
