when to check oil?
 

okay most retarded question ever but i couldn't find the answer and the manual is at home. Do you check when the car is warmed up or when cool?

when the car is cool...

i thought that the lower marker was for when it was cool and the top marker was for when it was warm... am i wrong?

thats what i was taught

:eek: NO
Check cold! Top is full, bottom is a quart low!
(Only auto trans and p/s have hot and cold marks)

warm, learned it from school. Honda's are a little different.

Why? I am very interested since it goes against all i've ever been taught!

Usually cold, though the oil doesn't expand THAT much. It should be between the lines, Hot or cold.

As to WHEN to check the oil? About 8:30 am. :D

Never, never in the AM, she said!

Either will work. But I heard its the most accurate cold.

you guys have aftermarket dip sticks or something? because i see no hot/cold lines on mine :confused: :cry:

well can anyone look it up in the manual?

Only east coast cars have hot and cold lines!:D

Why, were having too much fun!

I've always check it when its cool...I have the manual here give me a sec.

also i am guessing it would be different if you wait a lil after driving it vs waiting overnight for all the oil to settle.

It says: wait a few minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil. It should be between the upper and lower marks; if its near or below the lower mark, see Adding Engine Oil on page 152 :cool: I deserve a rep for this :lol:

either. cold or hot. won't move. more to do with whether your car is level when you check it. also need to wait a minute or to for the oil to completely drain into the pan from the top end before you get a true reading -- especially so if u have a thick additive. just don't have too much oil

?? oil level will only change from cold engine to hot engine with a dry sump.. ?? i think we have different oil system, not sure

warm or cold wont make much difference or at least not enough care. yes its possible for it to be different if you let it sit over night, or start it up and then shut it off then check immediately

no fair! where can i get one for cheap.:confused:

other than that, i always check when the engine is cold to let the oil settle...
:cool: :sweet:

only on sundays

no but i chex mine when it warm

I always check warm

I always check after a long sit. Oil when in a running engine is pumped all over the dam place. It settles over time, so to get a true reading without over filling it should sit for a while. You do not want to over fill bad juju happen when too much oil. The temp imo does not matter its the time to let it fully settle. I usually check it before a morning start to make sure it has all settled.

warm i assume since the recommendation is to check the oil level when you fill up, so i assume the engine is warm by the time youre at the gas station. i think the same for tranny fluid, and coolant levels.

:tup: And you sir have the correct answer!:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I have always heard to run the car to get to operating temperature, then wait 10-15 minutes for the oil to drain back down then check it.

wrong, ill be back with a quote if i can find it!

NO! dont check it warm or after driving/running.
pon55 is 100% correct. oil needs to be checked after car is sitting for a while cus otherwise its still up in the cylinder head and all.

coolant levels do somethimes depend because sometimes the resevoir will say
"max-cold" or "max-hot"

ya case being the power steering has hot/cold lines not max/min. also trans fluid should be checked when hot or right after turning the car off assuming it was wamed up. coolant i think you just fill to the max when cold? oil now i know is cold after letting the car sit for a while.