How Do I Check the Oil in My Mazda Miata?
by Jody L. Campbell
Introduced in 1989 as a 1990 series model, the Mazda Miata (also known as the Miata MX5) has featured three different engines in it. Whether it's the 1.6-liter, 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, checking the engine oil is relatively a universal procedure and an important maintenance step in between oil changes. This procedure will diagnose oil leaks or engine oil burning to help you prevent any engine damage to the vehicle.
Step 1
Drive the Miata for 15 minutes to bring the operating the vehicle up to normal operating temperature.
Step 2
Park the car on level ground and shut the engine off.
Step 3
Release the hood latch on the left side of the driver's side dashboard. Then open the hood to the Miata.
Step 4
Locate the engine oil dipstick. On most models, it's on the driver's side of the engine compartment parallel to the oil fill cap and valve cover. It has a yellow colored ring handle and "engine oil" is stamped on the ring.
Step 5
Pull the dipstick from the dipstick tube. Wipe off the oil at the bottom of the dipstick with a shop rag.
Step 6
Inspect the end of the wiped dipstick to look for the low, safe and full marks stamped on the end of the dipstick.
Step 7
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and ensure it is fully seated inside the tube.
Step 8
Pull the dipstick out of the tube again. Then compare the level of the oil on the end of the dipstick to the low, safe and full markings on the end of the dipstick. If necessary, add engine oil to the oil fill port until the oil level reads full on the dipstick.
References
Things You'll Need
- Shop rag
Writer Bio
Jody L. Campbell spent over 15 years as both a manager and an under-car specialist in the automotive repair industry. Prior to that, he managed two different restaurants for over 15 years. Campbell began his professional writing career in 2004 with the publication of his first book.
