You should check the oil every few hundred miles, or every other time you fill your gas tank. Consult your owner’s manual for the position of the oil dipstick and engine oil filler opening. The best time to check the oil is when your engine is warm and on level ground. Turn off the vehicle and wait a few minutes. Then pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a rag, and reinsert it. Push it all the way in. Pull out the dipstick, again. It will have either two notches or an indent to show the oil level. It’s best to keep the oil level at or near the top mark. If the oil is between the two marks, you may add oil. Below the bottom mark, add oil. At or above the top mark, do not add oil. Too much oil in your engine can actually cause problems. If you’re low, add oil a little at a time (no more than half a quart to a quart), then re-check. Replace the dipstick before you close the hood.