When do you check the oil?

1. When the car has been sitting there for hours or over night?

2. When driving for a while then checking after shutting it off for a couple of minutes?

If the question for number 1 is yes, then the oil will be below the full mark when checking after shutting it off.

If the question for number 2 is yes, then the oil will be above the full mark when checking the oil when the car has been sitting for a while.

Which is the correct way to check the oil before filling it.

thanks in advance,
Lenny

 

I almost always do #1. This gives the best representation of what you've got in the car (when most of the oil has drained into the pan.)
I'll do #2 if I'm worried that I might have consumed oil during a long stretch of driving (like when I've stopped for fuel on a long trip.)
To know the difference, do #1 (note level). Then do #2 right away (get temp up to normal operating). #2 will give you a lower reading on the dipstick since a lot of the oil will still be up in the engine parts. But you will know that this is OK because you just checked it as per #1. Anytime you do #2 and it's below this, you'll know you don't have a full load.

 

According to the manual, you check it every time you put in gas. It specifically says to "wait a few minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil."

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rstark
[B]According to the manual, you check it every time you put in gas.

 

The best time is after the car sat for a while. This will give you the most accurate reading. You should check it often, so if you do check it when you fill up, don't sweat it if it's down one or two X's. If you are worried about it, check it the next morning.