# Oil change **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [August 2, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874 "2010-08-02T20:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![debken23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@debken23](https://community.cartalk.com/u/debken23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/1 "2010-08-02T20:34:30Z")
Should the car be “off” when you check oil or “running?” ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/2 "2010-08-02T20:38:15Z")
Off ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/3 "2010-08-02T20:40:55Z")
Deb, May I Suggest Using The Car’s Owner’s Manual For Answers To Questions You Have Concerning The Car’s Well-Being. Should Your Manual Be Missing, It Would Behoove You To Obtain An Exact Replacement. Engine off for checking engine oil. CSA ---
**Author:** ![Pyramid3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Pyramid3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pyramid3)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/4 "2010-08-02T20:44:41Z")
Oil and P/S Fluid are checked when the engine is off. Auto Trans fluid is the only one checked when the engine is running - - and at normal operating temperature. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/5 "2010-08-02T21:00:00Z")
I’m Curious . . . The question title says, "oil change." The question asks about oil checking. Is there a connection or a question about oil changing, too ? CSA ---
**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/6 "2010-08-02T22:07:49Z")
Many or most modern day cars instruct you to have the car off when checking auto transmission fluid level. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/7 "2010-08-03T01:12:56Z")
With all the “fluid changing, checking, what type” and loads of other owners manual type questions, I have come to the realization that nothing in this world will ever get 99% of the motoring public to even look in that little (OK sometimes not so little) book that came in the glove box of that miracle of modern technology they are driving. The OWNERS MANUAL is your friend, embrace it’s goodness and wealth of knowledge. READ IT ! ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/8 "2010-08-03T01:45:37Z")
Is that true? Its a new one on me. Of course, my “newest” car is from the 2000 model year. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/9 "2010-08-03T01:55:34Z")
You have to. There is no dipstick, and the fill hole is on the side of the transmission the hot exhaust pipe runs down. At least on the one’s I’ve seen recently. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/52874/10 "2010-08-03T01:57:13Z")
I thought you just couldn’t check the fluid on those non-dipstick units. Its the old pull & fill to the level of the plug idea?