How do check motor oil on a standard car?

Checking engine oil is the same regardless of what transmission you have. You find the oil dipstick under the hood, pull it out, wipe it off, reinsert it, pull it back out again, and ensure the engine oil level is within the limitations specified on the dipstick by the "full" and "add" lines. That checks the level. How dark your engine oil is can be an indication of whether or not it needs to be changed. If you change it yourself, the drain plug at the bottom of the oil pan is magnetized. Check that for metal fragments. When you replace your oil filter, you can cut it open with a cutting pipe wrench, cut out a square of the fabric inside, and inspect that for metals and other particulates. If you really want to go all-out, you can send a fluid sample in (I send mine to Caterpillar) and have them analyze it.