Wull

I've been scratching my head over this one the last few days so decided to do the usual.....forum search to see if there was anything at all regarding checking oil level etc and I was amazed at how many people have had the exact same issue that I'm having just now, it's a tad amusing tbh.

Anyway, what an absolute ball ache it is just to do something as simple as check the oil level, every single time it's different and one side always shows a different reading to the other side. I'm also amazed at how many different ways people check their level.

Check level when it's cold, check when it's warm but after it's sat for a short while, dipstick wiped clean then back in and straight back out.......wiped clean then leave for at least 10mins to allow anyway oil in the (forgot its name) to go back down into the oil pan. It's doing my **** in.

I'm a firm believer that checking oil level when cold is the true way to get an accurate reading but the problem I have is the parking at my house is on a slight hill, so the reading won't be accurate. But if i drive to an area that's flat I don't get an accurate reading as the oil is now in and around the engine, so I'm in a position where I want to top up the oil but I have no clue how much I need to and I don't want to put in too much.....absolute pain in the farter!

I know for sure that it's not below the minimum mark but when I have checked from cold at the house it's roughly 1/2 way to maybe 2/3 full but the car is on the slope when i'm getting these readings.

Tomorrow at work I'm going to check after the car has sat on the flat for a good few hours so I should hopefully.....get a reading that's accurate and one that I'm happy with, then I'll decide how much I need to put in,if any at all.

I've never experienced this before with any car, it's always been a simple process but not now. I'm losing my mind

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Just enough time for most of the oil to return to pan.

360ste

iTrader: (1)

One suggestion, ensure the oil is up to the full mark when on the flat. Park at home and check the oil level and put your own mark on the dipstick.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

^^^This
And it's not that difficult,you just need to get the technique right

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

I'm not sure why you would need to put your own marks on the dipstick? It already has them on there

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

Always keep the dipstick vertical to read it, don't turn it to the horizontal as the oil nearly always runs and gives a faulty reading

Wull

So I can compare it and know where full is when parked on the hill at my house.

Wull

Cheers guys, I also made sure the dipstick went in with the oil can facing the right way. I'll see what readings I get tomorrow with it parked on the flat for a while.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Checking oil on a hill is never a good idea but it's your car so fair doos.

Wull

Agreed but you'll notice from my first post it's the root of the problem I'm having. As soon as I move the car to a flat place to check it my readings are inaccurate because the oil is in and around the engine.

P.s I'm not going to put extra marks in the dipstick....that's too much hassle

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Checking hot or cold really isn't an issue,and as busta says when 'most' of the oil has returned to the pan,which doesn't take long,a few ml which is still inside the engine casing isn't going to make any difference tbh.

Hawkeye D

I do mine after an hour of being sat on the flat after a drive - still nice and warm, but not hot - hot oil has expanded slightly, giving a false reading of the level being higher than it actually is.
Pull out dipstick, ignore reading, wipe clean.


Keep dipstick out for about 5 mins, then check. If I get a "V" pattern of oil on the dipstick, I base the level to be roughly the bottom of the "V"


Then top up to the drilled hole by the "F"
I always wait a few mins after adding oil as just a slug at a time. PITA for sure, but best way for me.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Firm level ground, cold, pull the stick, clean it, put it back in, pull it out is it in between the Max and min, Yes

If not top up

It's not rocket science. Unlike Newton's Third Law which is related.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

^^^vvv
But putting the dipstick straight back in can give a false reading as gravity doesn't instantly send all the oil back down the dipstick tube

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Do you really think after a service, I'm going to wait till oil is cold (next morning) to check if it needs a top up.
As said above, a minute or two for oil to drain down, unless your using 40/80 oil which will take a month lol

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

The cleaner the oil, harder to get reading than more dirtier the oil.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Agreed due to viscosity but the dip stick tip is actually in a cavity in the sump and the oil does not stay in the tube.
And if the engine is hot the oil will still be dispersed around the galleries.

http://opposedforces.com/parts/impre...ystem/oil_pan/

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

You can see it sticking out.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SU...YAAOSw-kdXyY5e

boosted

Omg. Just dip it and make sure it has oil ffs

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Subaru provided for the hot oil scenario. The extra half-circle notch in the side, further up, is the max mark for hot oil readings.

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

So just pulling the dipstick out for the first time will tell you there is enough oil in there?
No
Pulling the dipstick out for the first time will drag oil up the tube?
Yes
Pulling the dipstick out and Leaving it a few minutes before putting it back in to check is the correct way?
Yes
Is oil starvation on a boxer engine an issue when you don't have the correct levels in a problem?
Apparently not?
Your car your choice
#baffled sump

boosted

It's not a pull stick it's a dipstick

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Aye

boosted

Lol

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Paben

iTrader: (5)

You don't need a feeler guage to measure the oil FFS. The difference between the Full and Fill markers (the very safe limits) is about a litre so hardly critical!

abre

Thats because of the angle that the dipstick enters the oil. Consider that the stick goes into the sump from the side of the engine. Therefore the bottom side will always show a higher level because the oil will effectively form a meniscus with the stick and climb up the lower surface. Putting the dipstick in with the oil can the right way up, and reading off the upper surface it the correct way to check the level, as described in the manual. But I agree, getting a consistent reading can be a total pain on some occasions.

Scooby-doo97

iTrader: (1)

Everything about these cars is ****. From the Morris dancing oil change procedure to checking the oil (leaving the dipstick out overnight)!

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Not quiet overnight,5 mins will do
Try going round a long sweeping bend flat out with a litre less than you should have in there
Apparently that's ok,see where you're **** is then

Wull

I started getting consistent readings so I'm happy with that, I added 250ml to take it up nearer the full mark.