Checking Engine Oil Level

• Never smoke when working in the engine compartment. Gasoline and other flammable vapors may be present, which can cause a fire.
• Be very careful when working in the engine compartment when the engine is hot. You may burn yourself. Do not get too close to the radiator cooling fan. The electric fan may start; risk of injury. Scarves, neckties, and other loose clothing may be caught by moving parts.

• Be careful not to mix up different types of fluids when topping up. They are not compatible with each other! Adding the wrong fluid can seriously damage your vehicle.
• The oil level must never exceed the MAX mark.
• Always add engine oil of the same specification as the oil already in the engine.
• If adding engine oil, wait for the engine to cool down. Before removing the oil filler cap, especially on vehicles with aluminum caps (if equipped), wait for the engine to cool down. WARNING: Risk of burns!
• Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause aeration or loss of oil pressure. This may damage your engine.

To ensure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level regularly, for example, at every refueling. The best time to check the engine oil level is approximately ten minutes after the engine has been fully warmed up and turned off.

Checking the oil when the vehicle is on a level surface will improve the accuracy of the oil level readings.

There are four possible types of dipsticks:

• Shaded area.
• The shaded area is marked SAFE.
• Shaded area marked MIN at the bottom of the range and MAX at the upper limit of the range.
• Shaded area marked by recesses at the MIN and MAX ends of the range.

NOTE:

Always keep the oil level within the crosshatched marks on the dipstick.

Adding 1 quart (1 liter) of oil when the reading is at the lower end of the dipstick range will raise the oil level to the upper limit of the range marking.