Checking oil level - hot or cold?

[FUELER]

I have a VG33 in my 99.

 

 

My oil level is below the "low line" on the dipstick when cold.

 

It goes up and way above the "high line" when the motor is hot.

 

 

I've never seen such a discrepancy in any other car. Which is an accurate indicator of oil level?

[vengeful]

What weight are you using?

[94extreme]

cold

 

i check all my fluids cold. if they are below "low" then i add. i know that the manuals say to check AT and PS when hot but they fluids don't expand that much so i feel safer when checking them cold.

[XPLORx4]

After reading a few sites about checking motor oil, most sites made no mention of engine temperature for motor oil check, but some said check it when it's hot. I couldn't find any sites that specifically recommended checking the oil level when it's cold.

 

Click here for info

 

From what I've read, it's more important to let the engine sit for a minute or two before checking the oil level so that most of the oil has had a chance to drain back into the sump.

Edited November 15, 2006 by XPLORx4

[FUELER]

What weight are you using?

 

 

Mobil-1 5W-30

[FUELER]

 

From what I've read, it's more important to let the engine sit for a minute or two before checking the oil level so that most of the oil has had a chance to drain back into the sump.

Good idea, I haven't been doing that. I'll try again.

[Simon]

Yes....another thing, probably obvious, is to NOT check the oil when the engine is running. You can have almost no oil in the engine, and it will still show high on the dipstick if you do.