Checking the oil in your Ford Focus on a regular basis keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. In fact, it's a good idea to check it every time you get gas. Oil keeps an engine running smoothly and the wrong amount of oil can critically damage an engine. If the oil is within the acceptable range, you want to avoid adding any since too much oil is just as damaging as too little.

  • Checking the oil in your Ford Focus on a regular basis keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently.
  • If the oil is within the acceptable range, you want to avoid adding any since too much oil is just as damaging as too little.

Park your Ford Focus on a flat place and wait a few minutes before opening the hood. You want to avoid waiting too long after the engine is shut off because the oil needs to be warm for accurate readings.

Set your brake and open your hood then locate the dipstick, which is also called an engine oil level indicator. Grasp the top and gently pull the Ford Focus dipstick out of the tube. Wipe it off with a rag or tissue.

Observe the cross hatch marks on the dipstick. These mark the safety zone for the optimal running of your engine.

Slide the dipstick back into the tube and pull it out again to get a clear oil level reading. This time, check the oil level on the dipstick without wiping it off while keeping the tip facing down.

Make sure the oil level mark is within the cross hatch section of the dipstick. If it is over the marks, you need to drain some oil out; if it is at or below the marks, you need to add oil.