How to remove the dipstick and check the oil level
Hans Angermeier is an ASE certified Maintenance and Light Repair Technician and has produced over 100,000 videos showing drivers how to fix things on their cars. He has broad expertise on basic repair procedures covering the majority of cars on the road. Over the past 10 years, Hans has been focused on building CarCareKiosk, which is visited by millions of drivers each month.
Checking the oil in a Focus is fairly easy and should be done once a month. Note that most Ford have an oil pressure gauge next to the speedometer - this gauge does not tell you what your oil level is, but rather uses an oil sensor to indicate the oil pressure in the engine. If you have an oil light illuminate in your Focus, this means your oil pressure is either high or low. The video above will show you how to check the oil level in your 2008 Ford Focus by taking an accurate dipstick reading. Make sure your engine is cold when you check the oil in your Focus. Otherwise the dipstick will read slightly low. In addition to checking the oil level, you also want to look at the condition of the oil when you have the dipstick out. If the oil in your Focus is dirty or smells like gasoline, you probably need an oil change.
If you notice that the oil level in your Focus is extremely low or empty, fill it up and check it again the next time you drive. If it is extremely low again, have your mechanic take a look before driving it much more.