How to Check the Oil in Your Vehicle
Broaden your vehicular knowledge by reading this how-to guide on how to check the oil in your Chevrolet or GMC model. In relation to other tasks that pertain to your car, this one requires minimal preparation, tools, and time. We at Sundance Chevrolet GMC encourage you to learn as much as you can about this process that will make you a more adept car owner!
Preparation
Perhaps one of the biggest sighs of relief for those who are learning how to check the oil in their car for the first time is how minimal the preparation steps are. One of the first is also the most straightforward — ensure that your car’s engine is cooled down. If you hadn’t operated it within the day, you needn’t concern yourself with this step. However, if it has been driven to accomplish a few errands and it has only been a few minutes since you’ve parked it in your driveway, we recommend that you wait up until around the 15 minute mark before continuing. Within that timeframe, you can grab a white paper towel or microfiber cloth. You should also make sure that the car is on even ground. Otherwise, your analysis could be thrown off by even the smallest incline.
Observing Oil Level and Condition
Without further ado, it’s time to get to the oil reservoir. You’ll need access to the engine bay first, which is granted by pressing on the latch underneath the steering wheel column. A discreet popping sound should follow this action — a key indicator that you’re now able to lift up the hood and keep it open using the model’s prop rod. A series of machinery is immediately visible once it’s up, though you only need to focus on the dipstick for this task. It is a circular ring that you pull on, with an end that is typically bright in color. If you can’t find it, give us a call and we can help you identify its location. Pull it out to reveal a metal rod, then wipe off the oil at the end with your cloth or towel. Place it back into the oil tank, remove it once again, and stay tuned for the next step.
Final Steps
Now you’ll be able to identify the quality and level of your oil by assessing its coloration and where it sits within the markings at the end of the rod. The remnants should be amber in color, with a level that rests above the low reading. If you’ve found that the oil is dark brown and it’s also in low supply, our Service Department will take care of you by offering you an oil change. You should do so even in the event that the oil exhibited only one of these traits, as either scenario can lead to other issues if left unattended. When you make an appointment with us, provide pertinent information about your car’s model, year, make, and what you discovered from your reading. We also recommend getting a read of its current mileage according to the odometer, as vehicles with over 80,000 miles typically call for a specialty oil blend. Our team can’t wait to work with you!
We Can Also Service Your Vehicle’s Coolant!
Dealership Information
Testimonials
“ Ralph was super great to talk to! ”
“ Was so easy to work with jess! She was kind communicative and made sure i understood the entire process! ”
“ George berry did a great job with communicating and working to get the best deal possible definitely a relaxing and not pressured into anything highly recommend using him at Sundance if your looking for a vehicle ”
“ Erin was super nice and understanding went above and beyond for us am I truly appreciated the energy I’ll be letting people know to come get a car from her ”
“ Erin the female in the cabin in the back of Sundance Chevrolet has impeccable customer service. She helped me through my whole process of buying a car and spent hours patiently trying to help me find the best options within a great price range! I would highly recommend this company and specifically Erin as a sales lady to anyone looking to buy a car from Sundance Chevrolet at a great price! ”
I live in Montana and Jason and his team went out of
“ I live in Montana and Jason and his team went out of their way to help me get my car. I was able to get my car shipped for a good price and when it arrived, everything was as it was supposed to be! ”
“ Added a terrific day at Sundance today.brad m. work well with us helped us in every way.And we now own a new car.Thank you sundance! ”
Andrew was really polite and easy to work with to ensure
“ Andrew was really polite and easy to work with to ensure an easy lease deal was made! ”
Wonderful experience.
“ Wonderful experience. Terry Hanks is the best!!! Makes sure clients needs are met any way he can. His son Joe also helps meet exceptional needs. Nick Vollman was knowledgeable and excellent salesman during purchase process. George helped set up financing and warranty’s to meet our needs. Good job! ”
Jason and other members at Sundance are all very nice and
“ Jason and other members at Sundance are all very nice and easy to talk to. Jason found me the perfect car. I love it. ”
Cameron was the first salesperson to meet and greet us at
“ Cameron was the first salesperson to meet and greet us at our car. He found out what I was looking for and proceeded to to help. He was awesome to deal with. ”
“ I had an amazing experience working with Erin Killeen while purchasing my first car. From start to finish she was incredibly thorough, patient, and genuinely helpful. She took the time to show me a great variety of options within my price range and never once made me feel pressured—she’s extremely honest and cares about finding what’s right for you, not just making a sale. She was also very kind with my grandpa (who can be a little stubborn at times), which I deeply appreciated. She is flexible with scheduling and always prioritized what worked best for us as customers. First impressions really are everything and Erin went above and beyond in every way. I would 1,000% recommend Erin to anyone looking for a new vehicle—definitely ask for her (Erin Killeen) if you want a salesperson who truly has your best interest at heart! Thank you Sundance! ”
Great people to work with, they do there best to make the
“ Great people to work with, they do there best to make the purchase smooth and strive to have happy customers. ”
“ Josh Brown is a very good dealer ”
“ Chris A helped me greatly he got me in to a car I wanted super fast and was a big help! I’d recommend anyone seeing him when getting a new or used car! ”
“ Dominic landson was absolutely amazing ”
“ Scott was absolutely incredible in getting us a reliable vehicle. He helped secure our future. See him for an honorable deal!! ”
“ Lou Flynn went above and beyond to get me in the car i wanted! So grateful! ”
This was the forth car that has been purchased by myself,
“ This was the forth car that has been purchased by myself, my wife or daughter and have had a great experience working with Brad who we have used every time and ask for when we come in. ”
“ Highly recommend working with Will! He’s a total charmer and works to get you the best deal on a vehicle. I was very pleased with our interactions and his prompt follow-ups to my questions. Terry has a great crew! ”
“ I had a great experience recently purchasing a vehicle here. Website easy to use. Called the dealership and spoke with salesman Will, he invited me to come in for a test drive. I drove down from two hours away and Will took great care of me. He truly is a Grand Ledge Legend. ”
“ I went in looking for an suv and I was able to leave with one thanks to Brandon Price. He was very helpful and made the process go by smoothly. ”
“ Scott was very generous and helpful stop by and get that new car you guys👌👌🫵🏾 ”
“ From the entertaining radio advertisements to doorstep delivery, this was the best car-buying experience we’ve ever had. Josh Brown was very pleasant and he worked hard to meet our needs. His no-pressure approach was extremely refreshing. He communicated well during the entire process. Upon arrival, we were met immediately in the parking lot and directed to the proper building. As we were waiting, multiple people asked if we’ve been helped. Discussion with the finance manager for extended warranty was again, a no-pressure experience. We felt valued as customers. We highly recommend Sundance Chevrolet in Grand Ledge. Sincerely, Sue and Steve ”
“ Go see Brad at Sundance in Grand Ledge! Thank you for your help it was amazing. ”
“ Found a great buy today at Sundance, our sales guy was Cameron, such a friendly and straight forward guy, felt no pressure and walked us through the whole process. ”
“ Bought my second car from Sundance and Brad made the whole process a great experience. He made sure I got the best fit for me. Highly recommend!!! ”
Ed, is a super salesman who patient and kind.
“ Ed, is a super salesman who patient and kind. He worked at getting the suburban we had found . We have housed him twice and would recommend him to anyone. ”
Sundance always has the largest selection of used cars
“ Sundance always has the largest selection of used cars for us to choose from. The sales people are knowledgeable and easy to deal with. Like all dealerships they offer you extra care packages if you want, but if you decline, they don’t keep pressuring you. We have come here for our last 5 vehicles (1 new and 4 used). ”
“ Brad was a fantastic salesperson....prompt..knowledgeable.... answered every question... thanks for making our sales experience amazing and smooth at Sundance ”
“ Found a car quickly and efficiently. Cameron helped perfectly with a used car! ”
“ Cam Stoepker was excellent to work with. The dealership was fantastic to work with and it was easy to purchase our vehicle. Highly recommend and will be returning. ”
“ good service. ”
“ Purchased a 2016 Sonata from Scott. Great experience, great service, fast purchasing process compared to other experiences I've had. Great place to buy a car. ”
“ Help me get setup fast for the vehicle I was looking for. Great patience, quick and helpful throughout the whole process. ”
“ Jess did an amazing job and communicated very well through the whole process. ”
“ Ed and George are hands down the best sales men I have ever dealt with in 40 years! ”
“ Buy a car from Jake Bozzo. He’s the best! ”
“ This was my first time purchasing from a dealership and Chris was extremely helpful, talked me through the entire process and helped me find the perfect fit. Thanks! ”
“ Ed Fernandez was amazing? Took his time with the sale as it took a couple of weeks to complete and was helpful and available the whole way through the process. No surprises and no questions left unanswered, super great experience! ”
Salesman Jeremy took great care of me.
“ Salesman Jeremy took great care of me. Happy with the vehicle. Travelled from Jackson for the vehicle I wanted and they were the only ones to have it! ”
Process was to long after the salesman had all my
“ Process was to long after the salesman had all my information. The price I was quoted for monthly payment was changed at the last minute. GM card rebate was a hassle. No one knew how to do this process. ”
“ Make sure everything is in writing and/or text. Take car to independent mechanics to ensure you’re not getting screwed over. ”
“ First time I've ever used Sundance and most certainly the last. When a warranty company and another dealership tell you that they most likely didn't even hardly look at your vehicle you drove for only 2 weeks before it took a crap, you know you did business with bad people. Wether or not the salesman had anything to do with it or not, their inspector definitely helped them sell a bad vehicle. The turbo wasn't just bad, it was completely shot. The axle seal was completely shot. The control arms were bad. The back brakes were completely shot. Of course brakes are not something they need to necessarily replace if there is some pad left, but when they are down to the rotar, they need to be fixed. "As is" only works when you're not putting others in a dangerous situation. That's exactly what Sundance did with me and my family. A vehicle that was inevitability going to fail whilw driving and then possibly have my breaks not work correctly because half of them are completely worn out? I had to pull over on the highway and was told to immediately take it in the shop. Luckily i saw all the black smoke at night when driving. So glad my children were not harmed in an accident. This type of negligence should never be tolerated no matter what. Saying this vehicle was inspected is an outright lie. Again, even though the salesman says it is, they don't know for a fact what was looked at. We had it for 2 week. We just made our 2nd car payment on it and each payment we've made, we've never had the vehicle in our possession. It's been being worked on and they had to deal with the warranty company for what they would repair. Sundance says they will pay $300" because they don't want to lose us as customers. That's BS as they wouldn't have sold a vehicle like this to anyone if they wanted to keep customers. Over $8,000 in repairs in total. Only some of that was covered under warranty. Sundance was asked to pay partial labor fees. But because they think its too much, they offered that amount. They wouldn't have to pay anything if they had sold me a road worthy vehicle instead of a hazardous missle. Im not paying for the other $600 and im most certainly not paying for the rest of the rapairs I would have overlooked if not for this blatant fruad. No back brake and control arms still need fixed. The local news should know along with the county court of what is going on at this location. One is too many. I don't play games with my families life, my job or my money. Of which one wrong thing could have taken all of those away from me. ”
This was my first and worst online car buying experience.
“ This was my first and worst online car buying experience. Except for Chris Avila . Do not buy a car especially online . They used a 3rd world shipping company. The driver sat in my car smoking a cigar . I paid for registration, car had no temp plate . The detailer who cleaned the car inside was detailed at being blind and lazy . Meaning the did nothing . I have to now pay to get the cigar smell out of the car and have the interior cleaned . And buyer beware they put a rust coating mostly on thr exhaust and tell you about it after the fact . xxxx poor Dealership and sleazy owner like pond xxxx the deep green stuff. ”
“ See my guy lou. He won't let you down. That's lou Flynn win the win ”