My Ford Vehicle>Oil Change>Oil Change Information>How Do I Check And Add Engine Oil?

How do I check and add engine oil?

Motor oil is your engine’s lifeblood. It lubricates the internal parts, so that the engine can run smoothly and efficiently. Because your engine needs a certain amount of oil to run right, you should check your vehicle’s oil level every time you fill up the fuel tank.

Follow these steps to check and add motor oil. For additional information about motor oil, check your Owner’s Manual. If you have any questions, please contact your local Ford Dealership.

Before you Start

There are a few things you should do before starting:

  • Get a metal or plastic oil-fill funnel, an oil rag and one or two litres of the vehicle's correct specification and grade of oil. You can find the specification and grade in your Owner's Manual.
  • Park the vehicle on level ground—if the vehicle isn’t level, the oil level can be incorrect when you check it.
  • Turn your engine off, and wait 10 minutes so all of the engine’s oil drains into the oil pan.
  • Roll up or remove loose clothing, and keep your arms away from the cooling fan(s) when checking the oil—fans can turn on automatically, even when the engine is off.

Checking and Adding Engine Oil

  1. Open the bonnet and find the oil dipstick. It’s near the engine and usually has a brightly colored handle.
  2. Pull the dipstick out, wipe the metal section clean with a rag, then fully insert it and remove it.
  3. Your oil level is the highest point on the dipstick that is coated with oil.
  4. If the oil level is between “MIN” and “MAX,” you don’t need to add oil, and can replace the dipstick and close the bonnet.
  5. However, if the oil level is at or below “MIN,” you’ll need to add oil now.
  6. Find the oil fill location—it may have an oil can icon on it. You will find the location of the oil filler cap in your Owner's Manual. Remove the fill cap and place the small end of the funnel into the fill hole.
  7. Add oil by pouring in roughly a quarter of the container at a time, waiting a minute for the oil to drain to the pan, then repeating steps 2 and 3 each time. Stop adding oil when the dipstick shows oil at or just below the “MAX” mark. It's important to add oil in small amounts, and never add oil past the dipstick’s “MAX” level. Too much oil in your engine can be just as bad as too little.
  8. Remove the funnel and replace the dipstick and oil fill cap. Make sure both are fully secured in place then close the bonnet.

Note: Your motor oil should be changed every 7,500-30,000 km or 12 months, whichever comes first, depending on your vehicle’s model year and driving conditions. Most Ford vehicles have an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor that can help you keep track of when an oil change is needed. Between changes, your vehicle’s oil level can drop a bit within the normal range. However, if it drops to the “MIN” mark or lower between oil changes, you should take the vehicle to your local dealership and let the factory-trained technicians inspect it to determine the cause.