Checking oil level

[mazduh30]

This subject has probably been brought up before. Please excuse my ignorance on the use of the search engine

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Anyways, what is the correct or perferred method in checking the engine oil level and why? Some new owner's manuals recommend "Check on level ground, at operating temp, wait 5-10 minutes, and check the level." Older vehicles state cold. Most of us have been taught by our dad, whose his dad said... "First thing in the morning"..or "Drive down to the gas station and get it checked". Even back then, what is it Hot or Cold

I know, when in doubt read the owner's manual.

 

[Eddie]

My Mazda CX 7 suggests waiting a minimum of 5 minutes before checking. Car to be level is a no brainer. My Subaru suggested waiting 10 minutes. Subaru also mentioned that oil expands when hot so they had a add line, a full line and a HOT notch which was about 3/8 inch above the full line. After a long run the oil level was not supposed to be above the " HOT" notch.

 

[XPR]

My suggestion is that as long as you do it the same way it probably doesn't matter too much.

 

[Schmoe]

You got to wait a few. There is a lot of oil still in the heads after shut down that has to drain. You don't want to over fill the crankcase.

 

[Kestas]

Mercedes specifies to wait a few minutes... probably to match the old practise of checking at the station during fillup.

Nowadays with self-serve it is considered rude to check your oil and holding up the line during fillup, unless no one else is waiting behind you.

 

[wantin150]

I'll check mine the next morning or after completing the fueling process. Either way yields the same results for both my vehicles.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I check mine cold, always. That way all the oil has time to drain back to the sump.

 

[MaximaGuy]

Quote:

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I check mine cold, always. That way all the oil has time to drain back to the sump.

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I second this reco, always check when engine is cold, all oil would have drained into the pan...

 

[pp_rp]

As long as the engine is off for 5 mins. minimum your good to go. I see people at gas station checking their oil when the engine is running and they wonder why the level is reading low after an oil change..

 

[Eddie]

At home I check overnight cold. On a long trip, I check at every fuel stop, usually waiting 5-10 minutes.

 

[dwendt44]

If you bother to check the oil level at all, you're ahead of the game.
Realize that a little under the full mark is no concern.
Check it after a car sits overnight and again a few minutes after shut down will give you a sense of the difference and go from there.

 

[wantin150]

See, now after a change, I'll start the car and let it warm up, shut it down, and then let it sit for a while before checking it. I just like to make sure I got the new stuff flowing into (and then out of) all the little nooks and cranies!

 

[alreadygone]

Setting a minum of 5 minutes on level ground is sufficient. Longer time period will have no effect, easiest to do before start in morning. Why make this much more difficult than it really is?

Personally never waste my time, and that's with a 230,000 mile engine.

Bob

 

[The Critic]

I check it hot, about 1 min after shut down. Never found much of a difference between 1 min and 5 min+ with my Saturn.

 

[another Todd]

I check mine anytime hot or cold, doesn't seem to make a difference. Even if you shut it off, pop the hood, get a rag and check in 1 minute like critic say, doesn't seem to matter. Any measurable oil should drain back in that time.

 

[gfcrane]

On my I-5 Colorado it doesn't matter when or how you check the oil. The dipstick is useless for checking the level, it only shows that there is some oil present. Cold, hot, overnight, etc., it doesn't matter, nor does wiping clean or anything else. It just shows as a glob of oil on the end.

 

[ARB1977]

Its funny mine generally reads higher when up to operating temps. There has been times i drive to the gas station to fill her up and check the oil, i think to myself ---- shes burning oil...so then next week i do the same thing only drive alittle further and shes back to normal level.

 

[mechtech2]

Oh yes - It will read higher when hot , for sure. Both parts and oil expand when hot.

 

[Virtuoso]

I think the best advice I can give is to check it with a consistant method. Check it at the same place, with the engine at the same temperature. I look at mine before I leave work, since it's about the most level place my car is while it's cold. At home, unfortunatly, I'm parked on an incline.

 

[mazduh30]

Geez, maybe I need a life ...but, I contacted the manufactor's (Ford, GM, Honda, Toy, etc.). GM answer back with..."because of liability issues, you need to check the owner's manual".

Really I was curious since watching some of the fast lube places most of them wait a minute or two.




Would imagine most manufactors will answer this way.