Are you supposed to read the dipstick with the engine fully cold, or are u supposed to start it first and then turn it off and check? When cold, my dipstick will be at the half mark, but after being started it will be low because the oils been circulated. What's the correct way to read oil level?

 

Best when cold. Fill it up to the dot when cold too

 

i have always checked my oil aftern the motor has reached operating temperature and then let sit for a few minutes
this is what the manual says to

lets hear more inputs on this

 

I've had no problems going by either method... but this is one I use most.

 

me too.

 

Same here....I believe the reasoning is that by the time the engine has "cooled", the oil has drained down into the oil pan suffiently to be able to take a more accurate measurement of what is actually in the engine.

 

I also check the oil when my motor is complety cold

 

Same here,,, when it's cold and on a level surface.

Oh, and I check the level Every time I drive it,,, I'm Not kidding either...


A.

 

I check my oil every time I get gas, which is every 3-4 days. I wait until about halfway through filling up the car until I check the oil, check it ~3 times in the event that there is still some oil that has been accounted for.

Austin

 

This is what I do, I got in that habit driving my old CRX which seemed to burn more oil than gas.

 

Me too

cannot hurt being checked often

 

do you guys think that the oil has enough time to drian after only a few mins? I find the only readings i trust are on level ground after like an hour of sitting.

GTX 5w30 5-qt. jugs were on sale at wal-mart the other day...

 

you guys probably think you burn oil because so much of it disappears and ends up on a rag.

i've checked it 60min after driving and when the car has sat all night and gotten the same readings, so i just check it in the mornings once a week or so.

 

Nope. IMO, it needs about 2-3 hours of rest for an accurate reading.

How much was the GTX?

 

No. about an hour+ should be ok.

I once started my car realised i needed to check oil so turned her off again and left her five minutes and checked, she was half way on oil so i topped her up.

Then that evening after she hadnt been running for at least an hour i checked it again and it was way over! had to go and loosen the sump plug to let some out



[Modified by benmasters, 8:03 PM 12/11/2002]

 

Same here

I saw a 5qt jug of GTX for $5.88 at Kmart yesterday. That's a deal.

 

I ckeck my oil every sat morning.
The oils always at the top dot!

 

Check both at temp and cold.