French oil producer having Renault’s front end checked by dipstick (5)
I believe the answer is:
corot
'french' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for corot that I've seen before include "C19 French landscape painter" , "French landscape painter, d. 1875" , "19th century French painter" , "18c French painter" , "French artist" .)