CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL [G2793120]

CAUTION:

Check the engine oil weekly. If any significant or sudden drop in the oil level is noted, seek qualified assistance.

CAUTION:

Never allow the oil level to fall below the lower mark on the dipstick or the oil level indicator.

CAUTION:

If the instrument panel displays the message Add 1.0 quart of engine oil, stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Check the engine oil level. Do not start the engine until oil has been added. Allowing the engine to continue running with a low oil level may cause the engine to seize.

Engines with a dipstick
NOTE:

The graphic shown above is for illustrative purposes only.

The dipstick features minimum and maximum marks in order to help determine the oil level present in the engine. The marks can take the form of holes, lines or a hatched area.

Before checking the engine oil level, make sure that:

  1. The vehicle is stationary and the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) is applied.
  2. The vehicle is on level ground.
  3. The engine is switched off.
  4. The engine oil is cold.
    NOTE:

    If it is necessary to check the oil level when the engine is hot, switch off the engine and let the vehicle stand for 5 minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the sump. Do not start the engine.

The oil level can then be checked as follows:

  1. Withdraw the dipstick and wipe the blade clean with a lint-free cloth.
  2. Fully re-insert the dipstick and withdraw again to check the oil level.

If the oil level lies within the hatched portion on the dipstick blade, do not add any more oil.

There is no requirement to top-up the oil unless the oil is at or below the lower mark.

If the oil level is at or below the lower mark, add 1 U.S. quarts (1 liters) of oil. Wait 5 minutes and recheck the oil level.

Engines with electronic oil level measurement

In addition to a dipstick, some engines feature an electronic oil level measurement system. The electronic oil level measurement system provides an alternative method for checking the engine oil level using the touchscreen.

Before checking the engine oil level, make sure that:

If measurement is completed successfully, the engine oil level is displayed in the oil level indicator on the touchscreen.

The oil level can then be checked as follows:

  1. Touch the settings icon on the touchscreen.
  2. Touch the ALL soft key.
  3. Touch the Vehicle soft key.
  4. Touch the Service Information soft key. The touchscreen displays the engine oil level indicator.
NOTE:

The most recent oil level measurement remains visible for a short period of time after the engine is switched off.

If the engine is restarted, the oil level measurement is reset and updated after further steady vehicle driving.

Frequent short trips, driving on steep inclines or dynamic driving styles may prevent successful oil level measurement. In this case, perform weekly oil level checks using the dipstick.