How much oil does my car need? Knowing when to top up
Many of us rely heavily on our cars to get around. So when we jump in the car and expect to get on the way, any warning light flashing up is frustrating. Being unable to start your car properly or breaking down is even more problematic. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of this happening.
One of the best ways to keep your car on the road is to stay on top of vehicle maintenance. Being able to check your vehicle's oil levels and knowing when (and how much) to top up is an important skill for any car owner.
After all, engine oil has a key part in keeping the engine of any internal combustion car running smoothly. It:
Lubricates the engine parts
Reduces friction and wear on moving parts
Keeps the engine free from microscopic dirt and deposits
Protects against corrosion
Supports with engine cooling
In this guide, we’re going to explore how much oil cars need and how you can top yours up.. Skip to:
A warning light comes on. Cars are designed to let you know if there’s a problem. A warning light similar to this may come on if the oil level or pressure is too low. Newer cars may reveal more detail of the problem on a dashboard and warnings do vary between manufacturers, so check your owner’s manual for more information.
You check the oil levels and they are low. You don’t need to wait until a light comes on; it’s good practice to regularly check your engine oil levels. You can do this by following these steps:
Make sure you’re parked on a flat surface and let the engine cool off for around an hour if you’ve just been driving.
Open the bonnet and find the engine oil dipstick. It usually has a plastic orange or red pull tab.
Remove the dipstick and wipe away the oil with a cloth.
Put the clean dipstick back in and wait for a few seconds.
Remove the dipstick once again and check where the oil mark comes up to. There will be an oil level indicator on the dipstick, so it should be easy to see if the level is too low or high.
There’s an oily smell inside. This could indicate an oil leak, so let the engine cool down and check the oil levels.
You see darker exhaust smoke. The vapour from your car should be translucent, so if you notice darker smoke coming out of the tailpipe, it could indicate a bigger issue.
You hear a lot of engine noise. If you hear rattling you suspect is from the engine, it could be caused by friction as a result of insufficient oil or oil pressure issues.
As a general rule of thumb, you need to top up your oil around every 3-6 months, or every 3,000-6,000 miles, although it varies based on the age and condition of your car, as well as the type of oil it needs and how it’s driven and looked after.
If you leave your car without a sufficient amount of oil, you run the risk of causing damage. Repairs can be expensive, so make it a habit to check the levels regularly.
The amount of oil in your car isn’t the only thing you need to be aware of. Some of the signs above could indicate other oil-related issues, such as a faulty oil pump not circulating enough fluid to properly lubricate the engine or engine faults.
If you top up your low oil levels and are still having problems, you can take your car to Hendy’s team of dedicated technicians. You can easily book a diagnostic service online.
How to top up your oil
Topping up the oil is simple and inexpensive. You can do it yourself by following these steps:
Turn the car off. Car maintenance should always be done with the engine off and cooled.
First check for any obvious leaks. It would be a waste of oil to pour more engine oil in if it was just leaking out.
Check the oil levels. Pull out the dipstick, clean, and dip it in to check the levels. If the oil level is OK but you have a warning light, the pressure sensor may be faulty. You should get this checked..
Remove the oil cap and start filling. If the oil levels are low and there are no other issues, start slowly pouring in a bit of oil at a time.
Check the oil level as you go. Stop pouring, check the levels, and fill up more if required.
How much oil does your car need?
Most cars require between three and eight litres of oil, depending on the engine and other factors. The amount of oil your car needs should be outlined in the owner’s manual, as different vehicles have varying oil capacities. It’ll also outline the grade of oil, viscosity (measured by its resistance to flow), and the regularity of when you should need to top up and change the oil.
Topping up vs. changing the oil
There’s a difference between topping up your engine oil and changing it. Oil gets dirty and the quality deteriorates over time, so it’s important to change it periodically. You can change the oil yourself, but it’s more complicated than just topping up the levels. A proper oil change means the existing oil is fully drained during and both the oil and the oil filter are replaced. Topping up the oil isn’t a replacement for changing it.
If you’re not confident with car maintenance or you’re not sure on the exact problem, contact your most convenient Hendy dealership for help and advice. Hendy’s silver service includes an engine oil and filter replacement, so be sure to ask when you next book in.
Types of engine oil
You need to use an oil that’s suited to your car and your local climate, but always consult the manual to see what’s recommended. The types of engine oil include:
Conventional The industry standard for many years, conventional oil is refined crude oil. The oil is pulled from the ground, refined and combined with additives that can help with engine health and efficient running. Conventional oil tends to be cheapest.
Synthetic Synthetic oil is made up of chemical compounds, synthetic materials and performance additives. It’s designed to provide better performance than the traditional choice of conventional oils and while it may be more expensive, it tends to last much longer.
Even with fully synthetic oils, there are huge variations between different formulations.
Semi-synthetic or synthetic blend A hybrid of synthetic and conventional, blended oils can give the best of both worlds with some of the performance and protection properties of synthetic oils but without the higher cost.
High-mileage Available in different formulations – including conventional, synthetic and synthetic blend – you can purchase oils designed for cars that have a lot of miles on the clock. These high-mileage oils have additives which protect against risks like deposit build ups or friction, and extend engine life.
Understanding oil grades
You’ll see a combination of numbers and letters on bottles of engine oil, which can make it confusing to know which one to buy. Let’s take one of these combinations to understand what it all means:
Example: 10W-30
W stands for winter.
10 refers to the cold weather viscosity, which is basically the flow rate of the oil. Lower numbers flow better in colder temperatures.
30 stands for how thick the oil is when the engine is operating at a normal temperature. A higher number means a thicker oil at operating temperatures, which is good as it resists thinning.
All oils with similar codes with numbers either side of a W are multigrade oils. They are the most common in the UK, as they’re designed to deal with seasonal temperatures and support efficient engine performance throughout the year.
Should you mix oils?
Ideally try to use the same oil when you top up. As we’ve explored, different oils have different properties, additives and viscosities, so mixing them isn’t great for the car.
By learning more about oil, including how to top up your car’s oil, you can help the engine perform better and have an increased lifespan. For more car maintenance tips, check out the rest of our blog.
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