Check Engine Oil Level Hot or Cold? The Ultimate Guide

You check it cold or after the amount of time the engine maker tells you the reading will be accurate if it's been running. This applies to any ... The dipstick should need a good push when installing indicating a proper seal. ... Push the dipstick completely into the valve cover and quickly ... cold. if you check it warm, some of the oil will not be in the sump, so it will read low. also, too many people depend on ... Best way to check is to do it on level ground, rather than worry about the engine being hot or cold. The hot crowd will argue that oil expands when hot, so the best time to check the oil is when the engine is warm. For an accurate oil level, always check it when the engine is cold and/or has been sitting stopped for a while. Always check your oil when engine is cold. Best case is in the morning before you start the car. However, you can get a pretty good reading after about 20 min ... You could either check it stone cold or (as I believe the owner's manual says) warm, 10-15 minutes after shutting off the engine. Your most accurate lawn mower oil reading will come from a cold engine check, but if you happen to start cutting grass and forget to check ... Either cold or hot, anytime is better than not at all. When evaluating for oil consumption, the dealer will let it sit on a level surface for 10 minutes ...