Checking oil whilost parked on a gradient/slope

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

Soldato
Joined
19 Jan 2003
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Location
Bristol, UK
Hello,

I have always wondered this so thought I would finally find the answer.

Basically, my driveway is a slope and so is my road.

They are not massive hills as such but decent slopes.

What sort of effect does this have on measuring engine oil level? I know ideally you want a flat surface.

Also, with regards to checking oil how long should the car be stood with the engine off (it is an engine-off oil check car, not all are) before an accurate reading can be taken.

Thanks,

Chris
 
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Well, the oil will run to one side of the sump, so if you park facing downhill, and your dipstick is at the front of the sump, it will show a higher level than it really is.
 
Tesla said:
What sort of effect does this have on measuring engine oil level? I know ideally you want a flat surface.
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The only way you can accurately measure it is on a level surface. On a slope it will either read high or low, neither of which is good idea i.e. low reading could cause you to overfill it, high reading could mask low oil level.
 
georges said:
What about the time you should leave it after driving?
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I always leave mine overnight, as it gets cold, and so isn't going to be reading high...plus I don't currently use my car all that much, so it makes no odds. :p

I've always done mine on a flat surface, or almost flat, but then I've always had a flat place to work on the car. :D

InvG
 
On a level surface is the ONLY safe way to test it. Trying to adjust the reading for the slope is going to either underfilling and risking oil starvation, or overfilling risking blowing the seals.

As for when to do it, the best time is 5 minutes after switching off following the engine being at normal running temperature.
 
5mins?

It takes 10mins to warm the engine up (as far as the forum is concerned), and you recon it only takes 5 to cool down enough to get a decent reading?

Surely that'd keep the oil warm and higher than the actual level due to it being warm. Also the oil will not have drained out of the engine fully in 5mins, so I have to say that doesn't sound sensible.

InvG
 
Oil should only be checked before the vehicle has been driven, or about 15 minutes after the engine has been shut off.

If the oil is checked immediately after driving the vehicle, some of the oil will remain in the upper engine producing an inaccurate reading on the dipstick.
 
My drive's on a slope, and the road where I live. I just check it at the petrol station once a week.
 
you only need to leave the engine a minute or so before checking the level, its temp doesn't matter that much to the actually level on the dipstick.

how many of you have had 15min oil and filter changes? its a case of putting in a rough amount of oil, start the car til the oil lamp goes off, wait a minute check level and top up. off ya go.

you can leave a engine standing overnight and still have oil dripping down in the morning realistically the sump plug is only out for as long as it takes you to change the filter during a simply oil and filter change.

just check it on flat ground on occasion and all will be fine.
 
It must be a bummer to live on a hill....lol.
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Why dont you check you oil on any flat surface and if thats a good level...eg max or whatever go to your drive on the hill and re check and then mark the dipstick and you will always know the level of your oil...if you park in the same place.
 
Whenever i've tried doing this the oil is all over the dipstick and it's impossible to take a reading.

Maybe I need to perfect my dipstick removing technique though :D
 
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