Checking oil whilost parked on a gradient/slope

[Joe T]

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

Make sure you take it out and wipe it, before re-inserting it, pulling it out again and checking the level.

Did that sound a bit dodgy to anyone else????

 

[[TW]Fox]

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

Not the case. It varies from vehicle to vehicle.

My owners handbook states that I must ONLY check the oil with the car on a level surface, at full operating temperature, approximately 5 minutes after turning the engine off.

I once checked it from cold only a few weeks after a service and the level was on minimum. I topped it up and reported the problem to the dealer citing excessive oil consumption under warranty.

I received a £30 labour charge for draining the over-filled oil I'd put in back out Turns out the level when cold is inaccurate..

 

[Overlag]

Make sure you take it out and wipe it, before re-inserting it, pulling it out again and checking the level.

Did that sound a bit dodgy to anyone else????

yup

 

[Scania]

Not the case. It varies from vehicle to vehicle.

My owners handbook states that I must ONLY check the oil with the car on a level service, at full operating temperature, approximately 5 minutes after turning the engine off.

I once checked it from cold only a few weeks after a service and the level was on minimum. I topped it up and reported the problem to the dealer citing excessive oil consumption under warranty.

I received a £30 labour charge for draining the over-filled oil I'd put in back out Turns out the level when cold is inaccurate..

That'll teach you to not read the sodding manual!

 

[Lashout_UK]

That'll teach you to not read the sodding manual!

Muha!

Checking the manual, of course, would be the correct technique for any vehicle........

 

[Luke]

Are you serious? This is the worst time!!

Not according to the owners manual for the last 5 or 6 cars I've owned.

 

[Gaygle]

As oil warms, it expands.....hence what happened to fox.

TBH i'm amazed some people don't even know the proper procedure for checking oil!

1) Bring engine up to temperature (oil).
2) Switch off engine and park on level ground.
3) Wait 5-10 minutes then take 3 or 4 readings.

 

[Lopéz]

Not the case. It varies from vehicle to vehicle.

Yeah, it depends what temperature they set the "control" at for the initial level reading I suppose.

 

[Gaijin]

Seems strange though, blasted new fangled BMW engines.

Logic dictates that the best time to check would be:

1.) When the car is level so that the gradient doesn't affect the point at which the dipstick meets the oil.

2.) When the engine is cold, so that the oil is more viscous and doesn't slide off the dipstick as easily (Blasted un-viscous Castrol Edge), further more, less oil will be clinging to components due to mavity, and thus give a more accurate representation of the oil level.

But BMW have to find some way to defy logic. Would really like to know how this works.

 

[Matthew.M]

My MX5 manual states exactly the same, check it on a level surface 5mins after turning the engine off when its been at full operating temperature.

 

[ethos]

Hmm, I might have to try mine again then!

 

[Overlag]

Seems strange though, blasted new fangled BMW engines.

Logic dictates that the best time to check would be:

1.) When the car is level so that the gradient doesn't affect the point at which the dipstick meets the oil.

2.) When the engine is cold, so that the oil is more viscous and doesn't slide off the dipstick as easily (Blasted un-viscous Castrol Edge), further more, less oil will be clinging to components due to mavity, and thus give a more accurate representation of the oil level.

But BMW have to find some way to defy logic. Would really like to know how this works.

its not just BMW.

 

[thedazman67]

I check my oil every other time i fill up forecourts are the flatest surface i can find and by the time i have filled up, paid for the petrol enoigh time would have gone by to get a accurate reading i think.

 

[Tesla]

I check my oil every other time i fill up forecourts are the flatest surface i can find and by the time i have filled up, paid for the petrol enoigh time would have gone by to get a accurate reading i think.

If people are queueing behind don't they get annoyed?