In the middle of the L and H or at the H?

 

at the h i think

 

Anywhere in between the L & H should be OK. Most people try to add to the H because the level will only go down. Let your car sit for about ten minutes after you turn it off before you check it. Yesterday, I checked mine immediately after I turned it off and then again ten minutes later. There was a difference of two X's. If I had added oil based on the first reading, I would have overfilled it.

 

Covering all your "x's" = FULL

 

Both the 'driver' and 'passenger' sides will read differently....can't figure out why. Read the lowest one AFTER the car has been off for at least a couple of minutes.

 

2 Reasons:
1. Pull the dipstick out a few inches and you'll notice that it is not perfectly vertical.
2. For those who have removed the oil pan for the oil jet bolt change or for the S/C mod, you should have noticed that the place where the dipstick sits in the oil is in close proximity to another metallic structure (can't remember which side). I believe it is this close proximity to that hunk of metal will affect (slightly) the surface tension (and hence, the capillary action) of the oil near that area. This difference is reflected in what you see when you take a reading. I've also noticed that the different from one side of the dipstick to the other is much less when the oil level is closer to full than when it is down the stick a bit.

 

is the oil jet bolt change necessary? I have a MY01

 

WOW! If I could give you a definate answer to that one, I'd have to be able to see into the future to see if it makes any difference.
All I can tell you is, Honda did a complete European recall just to get this done. However, they claim that it is because of their particular driving style that necessitated this action. Honda for the rest of the world does not deem it necessary.
Many of us have taken it upon ourselves to do this retrofit for various personal reasons. I did it because I was worried about the extra stress created by my S/C and would be made less if I had the new oil bolts. Besides, I had my oil pan off anyway. It is not a quick and simple job and some cars in Europe that had the bolts done have been reported as having had engine failures just after the recall. The cause was improperly installed oil jet bolts. There is a trick to it and Honda mechanics have not done it before till they do the first one.
The new bolts went into to cars mid-way through the MY'02, so your '01 will not have them.
Do a search on "oil bolts" and see all that has been discussed on this subject. You must decide for yourself how important you think it is for your car.