How to properly check oil level?

[Aimster]

How does one go about doing it?

Start car , let it warm up then turn car off?
Before you turn on car - engine cold?

Thanks.

[JCL]

Vehicle warm, engine shut down, then let it stand for a moment. Vehicle must on a level surface (left/right and fore/aft).

[xnsf]

if your engine is warm, you oil reading will be incorrect let it sit for an hour or two before you check

[JCL]

if your engine is warm, you oil reading will be incorrect let it sit for an hour or two before you check

OK, let's do this again. This time I will post what the manual says, instead of going from memory.

1) Park the vehicle on a level surface
2) Switch the engine off after it has reached operating temperature
3) After approximately 5 minutes, pull the dipstick out and wipe it on a lint-free rag
4) Etc.

If your vehicle is cold, your reading will be incorrect. If you let it sit for an hour or two, all the oil will drain down to the sump and it will be similarly incorrect.

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by JCL

OK, let's do this again. This time I will post what the manual says, instead of going from memory.

1) Park the vehicle on a level surface
2) Switch the engine off after it has reached operating temperature
3) After approximately 5 minutes, pull the dipstick out and wipe it on a lint-free rag
4) Etc.

If your vehicle is cold, your reading will be incorrect. If you let it sit for an hour or two, all the oil will drain down to the sump and it will be similarly incorrect.

hmmm...never knew that. my dad always said when you check the engine oil when the car is still warm, it will be incorrect. you live, you learn

[Davud]

Guys...this is very simple and obvious...Oil Level to be checked only when Engine is !!!COLD!!!
Reason: When engine is getting warm, the oil spreading all around inside of Engine, oil stuck on the inside walls of Engine, on cylinders, and you NEVER can find out the proper LEVEL...

[xnsf]

i'm confused...everybody is saying different things

i thought it was supposed to be cold too...

[JCL]

You guys are cracking me up.

Oil is to be checked as per the manufacturer's recommendations. For vehicles, that is usually warm. Check your owner's manual, it is pretty straightforward. The BMW dipstick is marked with a safe range relative to warm oil.

Some vehicles have two 'safe ranges' marked, one on either side of the dipstick. This was common practice on automatic transmissions, and still is on oil sumps in trucks and heavy equipment, as well as some vehicles. One side of the dipstick will be marked "warm" and one will be marked "cold". Manufacturers have pulled back from that practice for consumer products, heck, they have even stopped putting in dipsticks in some cases. I guess they don't trust owners to check oil, or follow their instructions for checking oil.

The practice of the engine being warm, and then standing, is designed to allow the engine oil to circulate, and then the excess to drain down. You don't really need to wait 5 minutes like the manual says, but if you test it every 30 seconds you will quickly see when it settles down after a couple of minutes.

So, for all the scientists out there, if you want to check it cold, no problem. All you have to do is get it warm, let it drain down for a few minutes, and adjust the oil level to the max level. Then let it cool overnight. Then check the dipstick. See the difference, remark the dipstick at the new 'cold' level with a Dremel, and there you are. Seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to me.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by JCL

You guys are cracking me up.

Oil is to be checked as per the manufacturer's recommendations. For vehicles, that is usually warm. Check your owner's manual, it is pretty straightforward. The BMW dipstick is marked with a safe range relative to warm oil.

Some vehicles have two 'safe ranges' marked, one on either side of the dipstick. This was common practice on automatic transmissions, and still is on oil sumps in trucks and heavy equipment, as well as some vehicles. One side of the dipstick will be marked "warm" and one will be marked "cold". Manufacturers have pulled back from that practice for consumer products, heck, they have even stopped putting in dipsticks in some cases. I guess they don't trust owners to check oil, or follow their instructions for checking oil.

The practice of the engine being warm, and then standing, is designed to allow the engine oil to circulate, and then the excess to drain down. You don't really need to wait 5 minutes like the manual says, but if you test it every 30 seconds you will quickly see when it settles down after a couple of minutes.

So, for all the scientists out there, if you want to check it cold, no problem. All you have to do is get it warm, let it drain down for a few minutes, and adjust the oil level to the max level. Then let it cool overnight. Then check the dipstick. See the difference, remark the dipstick at the new 'cold' level with a Dremel, and there you are. Seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to me.

Thanks for the much needed clarification!

I am hating that the E90 doesn't have a dipstick. I have to trust the electronics to tell me when oil level is low.