Should you check your car oil level when your engine is cold or warm?

Is the best time to check it when it's been sitting for hours, or when it's been running for awhile?





Thanks.Should you check your car oil level when your engine is cold or warm?
cold and when the car is standing on level groundShould you check your car oil level when your engine is cold or warm?
You can check it either cold or warm.





If you want to check it cold, make sure that it is parked on level ground the previous day, so that you don't have to move it before checking..





To check it warm, park on level ground and switch off the engine, leave for 5 minutes to allow the oil to settle and then check the level.
different manufactures calibrate their dip sticks differently. Many have an indication for both cold and hot. If its been running a while, use hot, if its been sitting for a long time, use cold. Avoid using it after just a short time running, as the result will be in the middle.





If you only have one indicator, check the manual to see what they have it set for on your particular car
It doesn't matter whether it's cold or hot the oil level will be the same. The only things that affect oil level are whether or not the car is on level ground or if you just killed it and the oil hasn't settled. Oil is not affected by heat that is why you use it to cool your engine. Do not listen to the rest of these idiots. I have a degree in mechanics.
To read correctly on the dipstick it needs to be cold. By cold I mean it needs to have been sitting for a while, not running.





If you check your oil when its hot the engine will still have that oil running through all its lil bits and wont show correctly on the dipstick.
It doesn't matter, but if you check the oil when the car has been running you put the dipstick in once, take it out, then wipe all the oil off, and then put it into the reservoir again, then when you take it out, that is the correct reading.
Cold, because when the engine is still warm, the oil hasn't all drained back into the pan from circulating around the engine and you can get a false reading. Level ground is also important to get an accurate reading.
RTFM, ie look in the drivers handbook. Most cars have a check when cold or at least after standing a while. My Astra Diesel specifies HOT and wait 5 minutes after turning off. If you leave it overnight the oil is at least 20mm higher
cold


if you do it when it is hot you will not get all the oil


it gets warm and goes to the engine so yeah wait till it's cold.





transmission is when you should check when the car is running or hot
It doesn't really matter whether the engine is hot or cold.


If the engine has been running shut it off and wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back down into the pan before checking.
you can do it either way. if you check it when it,s hot you have to wait until all the oil is settled in the pan. i check mine in the morning before i start it.
Cold when warm it always shows that you need more oil.I use to work in a garage selling petrol it was a con used to get people to buy the 5 litre can of oil.
sitting, the levels will be calm, and you will be able to check it accuretly, best time is in the morning before you leave for school or work, its been sitting all night
Sitting for a while, because you need the oil to pool back in the reservoir to get an accurate reading on the dip stick.
cold. when its war the particles in the liquid are further apart and as a result give an inaccurate oil level reading.
best done when cold or after it as set a minute or two to give time for the oil to go back into oil pan hot or cold it dont matter
Cold, without doubt, it's the only way to get the ';true'; level. Fluids expand when heated.
Best when it is warm - basically I drive my car into the garage, let it rest for 5 mins and then I check the level.
Cold and with the car on a flat level ground.


Ja.
definitely when its been sittin awhile
When it is cold.
Doesn't matter,just check it.
COLD
makes no difference, but you should change it warm...
cold
cold
cold
Warm, but wait a little bit for the oil to drain back in the pan.





http://www.ehow.com/how_103_check-oil.ht…


http://automechanics.wordpress.com/2007/…





Checking Oil when it is cold would show it lower, and you could overfill your oil.
i don't think it matters but i always just do it after i've drove it