Oil Level
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Oil Level
When is the most accurate time to check oil level? There is obviously inconsitency between checking a few minutes after hard driving, a few minutes after normal driving, or on a cold engine. Is the rule the same as when checking tire pressure - cold engine? Thanks.
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food for thought: if you check it hours upon hours (cold engine) after it was last driven, you would get a slightly higher reading since all that oil has had time to drip down into the oil pan.
if you check it right after a drive (hard or easy) some of that oil is still in the valve cover and have not all dripped down to the pan yet. this, in theory should give you a more accurate oil level when the engine needs it most. while operating.
example: right after a drive i check the oil level. oil level is at the "add" mark.
3 hours later i go back to check the oil after most of it has dripped to the pan. the reading on the dipstick is now in between the "add" and "full" mark.
get my point?
if you check it right after a drive (hard or easy) some of that oil is still in the valve cover and have not all dripped down to the pan yet. this, in theory should give you a more accurate oil level when the engine needs it most. while operating.
example: right after a drive i check the oil level. oil level is at the "add" mark.
3 hours later i go back to check the oil after most of it has dripped to the pan. the reading on the dipstick is now in between the "add" and "full" mark.
get my point?
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Originally Posted by jeggy,Dec 15 2007, 06:08 PM
food for thought: if you check it hours upon hours (cold engine) after it was last driven, you would get a slightly higher reading since all that oil has had time to drip down into the oil pan.
if you check it right after a drive (hard or easy) some of that oil is still in the valve cover and have not all dripped down to the pan yet. this, in theory should give you a more accurate oil level when the engine needs it most. while operating.
example: right after a drive i check the oil level. oil level is at the "add" mark.
3 hours later i go back to check the oil after most of it has dripped to the pan. the reading on the dipstick is now in between the "add" and "full" mark.
get my point?
if you check it right after a drive (hard or easy) some of that oil is still in the valve cover and have not all dripped down to the pan yet. this, in theory should give you a more accurate oil level when the engine needs it most. while operating.
example: right after a drive i check the oil level. oil level is at the "add" mark.
3 hours later i go back to check the oil after most of it has dripped to the pan. the reading on the dipstick is now in between the "add" and "full" mark.
get my point?
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Check your oil when your engine is cold.
Checking it when it's hot is a waste of time. There is no telling how much oil is still floating around. Who cares what the reading is when it's hot. What ever oil is in the crank case will be be distributed no matter what.
The way to tell if you "need" or should "add" oil, is when it's cold.
Tim
Checking it when it's hot is a waste of time. There is no telling how much oil is still floating around. Who cares what the reading is when it's hot. What ever oil is in the crank case will be be distributed no matter what.
The way to tell if you "need" or should "add" oil, is when it's cold.
Tim
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From: San Diego, Wess-Side!!
Originally Posted by jeggy,Dec 15 2007, 06:08 PM
if you check it hours upon hours (cold engine) after it was last driven, you would get a slightly higher reading since all that oil has had time to drip down into the oil pan.
You are not getting a "Slightly Higher" reading.
You are getting an "ACCURATE" reading. Big difference.
Tim
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From: San Diego, Wess-Side!!
Originally Posted by jeggy,Dec 15 2007, 06:08 PM
if you check it right after a drive (hard or easy) some of that oil is still in the valve cover and have not all dripped down to the pan yet. this, in theory should give you a more accurate oil level when the engine needs it most. while operating.
Unless you know by looking at the dipstick of a hot engine how much oil to add because you know how much oil is stuck to the internals which have yet to settle, then this is completely wrong.
Tim