How to Check the Oil in Your Lexus

Getting the oil in your car changed is an essential service that should occur every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, but it's good to know how to check for its condition. The Service Department here at Pohanka Lexus is here to teach you how you can check the oil on your Lexus IS, ES, or RX.

Preparation

Checking your oil can be a simple process but it requires some preparations. It’s important to park the vehicle on level ground, as an incline would prevent you from getting accurate readings. Next, you should make sure that the car has been turned off for at least 10 minutes. If the vehicle were on, you’d run into some dangerous problems, like getting severely burned. Lastly you’ll want a white paper towel or rag, so that you can clearly see the color of the oil. Once you have all of this, you should use your Owner’s Manual to locate the engine oil dipstick, which usually has a yellow handle.

Observing Oil Level and Condition

When you are fully ready, take your cloth or paper towel in one hand and remove the dipstick from its place with your other. Clean off the dipstick with your towel and then reinsert it into the car. You’ll then remove it again and observe where the oil lies on the metal piece. There will be two notches on the end that is inserted into the vehicle, and these will tell you what to look out for. Having an oil level somewhere in between these two indicators is a good sign, as that is a healthy amount. If it falls below, then it may be time to refill it yourself or to schedule a service appointment with us. If there is oil above both indicators, then that means you have too much. should you add oil yourself, it is recommended that you wait at least 10 minutes before checking the level again. If the fluid is dark in color, thick, or has particulates within it, then you should change the oil to prevent any damage. 

Final Steps

Make sure to keep track of when you checked the levels and what you’ve found. If you’d like us to take a look at it, our Service Department will be happy to help. We’ll take that information into account to give you the best choice of oil and can adjust your car’s service timeline to meet its needs. Changing your vehicle’s oil regiment is typically for older vehicles, but our Lexus technicians can use this information to establish a baseline for future service. In any case, be sure to contact us with any questions you may have!