As title >> is it best to check oil when car has been stood for a while , Or not ???? cheers Alan.

 

does it not have 3 marks on the dipstick low level then top level cold and top level hot. As long as its above the low level you are ok.....IMHO

 

Simple answer is yes, let the car stand for a while [maybe ten minutes] before you check the oil level on the dip stick. These flat four engine do take some time for all the oil to drain back to the sump.

 

Yes - leave a few minutes after running - this enables oil to drain back down to the sump to give a true reading.

 

Is there a certain technique to reading the dip stick? It seems very innacurrate and difficult to read to me - wiper it clean, stick it back in and pull it out, and there seems to be deposits of oil all over it (mainly the edges) and it very hard to determine the true level.


Any tips?


John

(lol, what have I sunk to .....asking how to read a dip stick

 

Alan: Ensure you check it on a level surface every time.
Dip stick goes into the sump at an angle so check it on the flat upper surface ie facing up to the top of the engine once the stick has curved into the sump.

 

Yeah I found the same - If you take the dipstick out completely for a few minutes, wipe it and the check it seems to be clearer - I think oil from the dipstick get liberally applies to the sides of the tube when you repeatedly dip, wipe and dip again - so if you take it out completely the oil in the tube drains out.

 

Me to it is a pain in the @r$e , if I leave it all night and check it in the morning I still can't get a true reading .Sometimes it reads nothing next time it is above the full mark . Checked it after I took the dog for a walk the other day and it read just between the empty and full mark checked it 3 times two make sure .

I think that it is best to check it 10 mins after you have came back after a drive , and always,always on a leave surface .

 

I normally keep an extra long cable tie in the boot specially for this (and for the gearbox levels). Far more accurate....

I just have to make sure I don't drop it!!

 

I was wondering the same thing.

Checked mine after it had been stood for a couple of days and it read quite low (about a quarter?) However, I took it for a drive for about an hour and then left it to stand for 15 mins on the same bit of flat driveway, checked it again and it read just below full!

So which is it?? nearly full or almost empty??? Very confused!

 

Warn the car until it reaches working temp, leave it for at least 15-20 min off thus the oil will drain back, check always on the same place, you'll have always accurate readings, it depends also from what oil you use, with Motul 300V it needs more time for correct measurements than with the current Castrol RS10/60 I use
JIM

 

Glad to see it isn't just me being a doofus re: reading the dipstick!

Cheers for the tips.

John