Re: expansion. True, but if it's hot the engine will have been running recently and some will still be up in the gubbins, rather than in the sump. So I think it's neither here nor there.

Checking when cold is fine...it's what I usually do, although I never let it get more than half-way down the grading, just for safety. If I top it up I tend to top it up to a couple of mm over the top of the grading, just for safety...TOO much isn't great, but a little over won't hurt.

 

Yep, hence if you check when warm rather than hot, it will pretty much all have drained back - but I get what you are saying.

I dont think topping up to full on cold will hurt, the working level drops this somewhat. Probably safer on track too.

 

"Just wait till the light comes on then fill her up, isn't that what we all do? " Is that a Joke russellhq ?