Important: Always use the correct oil grade for your car. Using the wrong grade can affect performance or damage engine components over time. Check your owner's handbook or the label inside the fuel cap.
Common Oil Grades
- 5W-30, Most common for modern petrol engines
- 5W-40, Common for diesel engines and high-mileage petrol engines
- 0W-20, Modern fuel-efficient and hybrid petrol engines
- 10W-40, Older vehicles and some high-mileage cars
The number before W is the cold-temperature viscosity; the number after is the operating temperature viscosity. Your car's handbook specifies the exact grade required.
What You'll Need
- The correct grade of engine oil
- A clean cloth or paper towel
- A funnel (optional but useful)
Step-by-Step: Topping Up Oil
- Wait until the engine is cold, ideally check before your first drive of the day, or wait at least 5–10 minutes after turning off the engine. Hot oil sticks to surfaces and gives an inaccurate reading.
- Park on level ground. An incline will cause the oil to pool at one end and give a false reading.
- Locate and remove the dipstick (usually brightly coloured), wipe it clean, reinsert fully, then pull it out again to get a proper reading.
- Check the level. It should be between MIN and MAX. If it's at or near MIN, it needs topping up.
- Find the oil filler cap on top of the engine. It usually has an oil can symbol on it.
- Remove the cap and insert a funnel (if using one).
- Add oil slowly, 100–200ml at a time. Wait a minute for the oil to drain down, then recheck with the dipstick. It's easy to overfill, and overfilling can damage engine seals or the catalytic converter.
- Replace the filler cap firmly when done.
When to See a Mechanic
- You're adding oil frequently between services, indicates a leak or the engine is burning oil
- The oil appears milky or creamy, possible head gasket failure
- You can see oil leaks under the car
- The oil pressure warning light comes on while driving, stop immediately
- Oil is very dark and gritty, due for an oil and filter change
Tip: The oil level should be checked every month and before any long journey. Don't rely solely on the dashboard warning light, it only illuminates when pressure is critically low, by which point engine damage may already be occurring.