Mastering Engine Maintenance Checking Oil Hot or Cold

When you checked it cold, all the oil settled down into the oil pan. When you checked it warm, some of the oil was still suspended higher up in 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 ... 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 ... Best way to check is to do it on level ground, rather than worry about the engine being hot or cold. Be sure the engine is cold (or has been off for at least ten minutes) before you check the oil. The location of the oil dipstick depends on whether your ... If you check cold you run into the chance of getting false low readings due to oil getting past the check valve and draining into the crank case. Most of us know that with the red dipstick you are supposed to check your oil when it is hot, and with the yellow dipstick you check the oil ... The dipstick should need a good push when installing indicating a proper seal. ... Push the dipstick completely into the valve cover and quickly ... When do YOU check oil levels, cold or warm engine. I usually let it warm up, then let it 'settle' for a few minutes before checking. 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.