HOT OR COLD WHEN TO CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL

i asked myself the same question recenty, as i have driven dozers and tractors in the early part of my life, oil levels were always checked when the engine was running and hot
I tried to check the oil levels in the 4.2 diesel when the engine is running but its an impossiblity (oil all over the dipstick)

Hot or cold, just give it 5 minutes to drain to the sump.
Oil does expand a little when hot, but from my experence, there is about a 1 - 2L difference between full and empty on the dip stick, and it don't expand that much.

The best time is about 10 minutes after shut down, some dozers have their oil checked while cranking or running. Barnray

hi all, i operate earthmoving machines and they have a hot and cold mark on the dip stick and theres not that much dif between the two. but i was always told to check all engine oils cold, in the morning before start up is the first thing i do. and i make sure i park on a flat surface each night. but some people do it at night when they shut down.. peter d

From the Manual
Checking the engine oil level
With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check the oil level on the dip stick.
1. To get a true reading, the vehicle should be on a level ground. After turning off the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back to the bottom of the engine.
2. Pull the dipstick out, hold a rag under the end and wipe it clean.
3. reinsert the dipstick-push it in as far as it will go, or the reading will not be correct.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level while holding a rag under the end.

Richard

THANKS EVERYONE WHO REPLIED .WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU CHECK OIL COLD AND IT IS ON FULL THEN YOU CHECK OIL AFTER IT HAS REACHED RUNNING TEMPERATURE WAITED SAY 10 MINUTES AND IT IS NOT ON THE FULL MARK SAY 5MILL DOWN FROM IT WOULD YOU ADD OIL SO THE OIL IS FULL ON RUNNING TEMPERATURE AND OVER FULL ON COLD .

I think you have already answered your own question.

"WHEN I RECIEVE MY VEHICLE BACK AFTER A SERVICE I ALWAYS CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTOR FOR 5-10 MINUTES AND IT IS NEVER AT THE FULL MARK MAYBE 5MILLS DOWN FROM THE FULL MARK AS THE OIL IS DRAINING DOWN STILL."

If you are still in any doubt, drain the oil and refill with the quantity recommended by the manufacturer.
Check both hot & cold.
You will have your answer.

Normal passenger vehicles should be checked after the oil has had time to run down to the sump. Otherwise when you check it cold as after an overnight stop it will read high.

Commercial engines, mining equiptment & marine engines are often designed to be checked hot & running, the same as most automatic transmissions.

Not really a "stupid question" though, full marks for asking it.

Interesting... After I do an oil change and top it up I take it for a run to warm the engine up then shut it down and wait atleast half an hour which you would think is ample time for the oil to drain back into the sump. I then check the dipstick to make sure it is ok. After getting the level to the full mark or just under, I always find that after sitting all night that the level is always above the full mark when checked the next morning. I presume that the extra oil has come from the engine and that perhaps the half hour wait after initial change isn't long enough for all the oil to drain into the sump?

Also depends which car it is and what the manual says.

For the first time, my Pajero says to check the oil hot, 1 to 2 minutes after shut down.
All my previous cars were cold.
So first thing I did was check it warm as instructed, then next day checked it cold so I know the right level, and of course it is a little higher.

So I can check oil levels either way now, hot at the garage, or cold first thing in the morning on a trip, when I check everything else like tyre pressure, brake fuild etc.

I don't think it matters. Checking it when hot after its had 5 minutes to settle usually gives a reading thats no more than a few mm lower on the dipstick.

Your sump capacity is 10.5 litres and the difference between the two dipstick marks is a bit more than a litre. So practically, it doesn't make a significant difference.

But, if you want to monitor oil consumption, then checking it cold after settling overnight, in the same level spot on the driveway is the way I like to do it.

Many older Toyota drivers will remember the early HJ45's had a problem when you checked the oil first thing in the morning. The dipstick came out clean, or at a greatly reduced level. Needed to be put in again, to accurately check the level.

Knew a bloke who did the one check, then promptly whacked another 2 litres in, "because it was down".

Hooroo...

Just a suggestion - its considered rude on the internet to use capitals all the time - its like shouting. I'm guessing you hadn't realised this.

Cheers
Phil

Hi everyone i am sorry if you thought i was being rude using capital letters had no idea .