Oil Level

[wedget]

Hello people,

Just need a bit of advice if you dont mind.. When checking the oil level in a car some people say do it when the oil is hot and some when completely cold, also i usually top up to the max mark. should i do half way.. many many thanks in advance

[Annodomini2]

Cold, when the engine has been run and its hot the oil level drops due to it being circulated round the engine.

[wedget]

Thats what i was always led to believe, but i have been told oil can thin or thicken when hot to give a more accurate reading...I am very confused

[Mikey G]

Best advice i can give is check your owners manual, it will normally tell you in there the best way as done in the factory etc..
I always check mine when cold and ON LEVEL GROUND. the oil is thicker then and easier to see as well as it all being drained back into the sump.

Mike

[agent006]

My manual says to check when the engine is hot, 30 seconds after turning it off. Personally i always do it from cold, as teh oil is blacker then so it's easier to see the level on the 'stick.

[Pigeon]

Doing it hot can give false readings as there will still be oil "hung up" in the engine that has not drained back into the sump. Sometimes this "hung up" oil will be slowly dribbling onto the dipstick as well, so you can't get any sort of meaningful reading.

[wedget]

So still no closer, there does seem to be a very mixed view on this and my owners manual does not mention oil temp....

[350zwelgje]

Cold on an horizontal surface.
Or hot and left for enough time to have all oil back in the sump, resulting in a situation like cold. When hot waiting for five minutes on average should be fine.
Exception: if the manual states another procedure.

Also first time: take dipstick, wipe clean. Re-insert it (fully..), and do the correct reading while holding the dipstick on the cloth (even clean oil will be visible).

Rob

[leosayer]

Don't even think about asking how to do this on an air-cooled 911!

[wedget]

many thanks chaps....

[MR2Mike]

350zwelgje said:

Also first time: take dipstick, wipe clean. Re-insert it (fully..), and do the correct reading while holding the dipstick on the cloth (even clean oil will be visible). Rob

And not holding it upside down as I've seen people do!

[Marquis_Rex]

leosayer said:

Don't even think about asking how to do this on an air-cooled 911!

Seconded!

[deltafox]

Marquis_Rex said:

leosayer said: Don't even think about asking how to do this on an air-cooled 911! Seconded!

Or checking the coolant....

[Incorrigible]

On mine you're meant to check it with the engine hot AND RUNNING

Look in the owners manual