Should you check the oil hot or cold?
 

Cold ... car hasn't been started and all the oil is in the oil pan (will read relatively higher).

Hot ... car was running and oil will be throughoutthe motor and head (will read relatively lower).

How much of a measured difference is this?

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (zygspeed)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cold ... car hasn't been started and all the oil is in the oil pan (will read relatively higher).

Hot ... car was running and oil will be throughoutthe motor and head (will read relatively lower).

How much of a measured difference is this?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I never have seen a measurable difference, not like you can get 0.1 quart resolution on your dipstick https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif I'd guess the levelness of the car would make a bigger difference. Thermal expansion of the oil makes a difference too.

I try to check it hot, like when filling gas etc.

Don't check it while its running https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Chris F)
 

http://www.ehow.com/how_103_check-oil.html

Edit to avoid three-in-a-row...

http://www.advanceautoparts.co....html
There is an ongoing argument as to whether or not it is better to check your oil when the engine is hot, or when the engine is cold. The cold crowd will argue that when the engine is cold and at rest, all the oil is in the pan, and therefore the dipstick will give the most accurate reading. The hot crowd will argue that oil expands when hot, so the best time to check the oil is when the engine is warm.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Chris F)
 

Do you know what the owner's manual recommends?

I've noticed a substantial difference between hot and cold readings in the past, and most recently when I changed the oil "accidentally" overfilled it a good bit ...

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (zygspeed)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm sick, in my PJ's and don't feel like leaving the appartment to check my glove box/doorjamb. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>

Lazy bastard. I swear it's supposed to be measured hot, but I have been known to be wrong.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Chris F)
 

haha ... I did go to the store yesterday around 4:30 pm, at which time I cheched the doorjam, which said : 35 F 33R cold.

I'll go grab the owner's manual some time this afternoon. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emwink.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Chris F)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Lazy bastard. I swear it's supposed to be measured hot, but I have been known to be wrong.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Chris, I love your blunt honesty. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (S(J)O(D)L(M))
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by S(J)O(D)L(M) &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chris, I love your blunt honesty. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>

It was actually a direct quote from another thread, but I figured I'd pull that out for this one https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Chris F)
 

I start the car for 5 seconds, turn it off and check the level.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (zygspeed)
 

I check the oil when ever I have too http://images.honda-tech.com/set1//smile/emcrook.gif ...

But every morning I check the oil before I start it and for some reason it's always low https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (zygspeed)
 

oil is all over the place after the car has been moving, although i don't notice much difference if any other than its easier to read when cold because it changes color.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (vtec.dc2)
 

i try to let it sit for a few minutes after it has been motor has been running.

as long as it is near that top dot. im good to go.

98R 121000 miles. still holds oil. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmileo.gif

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (zygspeed)
 

i religiously check mine after i have turned off the car and let it sit for approximately 15 minutes. That way the amount of hott oil circulating has settled and you'll have an accurate reading. I will also check it cold, but only if the car has sat for sometime and i simply have not checked it as regularly as i usually do.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (Jon D)
 

I check my oil level whenever I get gas. So when it is hot.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (cryptikman)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cryptikman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I check my oil level whenever I get gas. So when it is hot.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That makes two of us.

Unless it's cold, raining, and windy when pumpin' gas.

This same topic came up on a UK honda forum not solong ago, someone said that honda's official word on this was to check it about 5 minutes after switching off the engine...so when its hot. I check mine when regularly, sometimes its hot, sometimes cold, sometimes luke warm...whatever...my car never uses oil anyway so i always get the same reading. I dont think it makes a whole lot of difference, there may only be a millimeter difference on the dip stick between hot and cold, just so long as its registering well up on the dip stick who cares if its hot or cold.

Re: Should you check the oil hot or cold? (baonest)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baonest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i try to let it sit for a few minutes after it has been motor has been running.

as long as it is near that top dot. im good to go.

98R 121000 miles. still holds oil. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmileo.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>

Even with mad v-attacks.......... https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif