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Posted: **Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:44 pm**

I know this is dumb but do you check the oil with the engine running or off? I'm sorry but I just need a quick answer

Posted: **Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:51 pm**

Turn the engine off and let the car sit for a bit. Make sure its on a level surface or your reading will be useless.

Posted: **Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:11 pm**

thats what I thought but I wasn't sure, thanks

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:19 am**

out of curiosity, why do you ask?

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:00 am**

Check it off and cold.

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:04 am**

Off and cold? I thought it was best to let the car warm up to normal operating temp and then let it sit a few minutes, to let the oil drain back into the oil pan, and then check it. Oil expands when it gets hot. If you check it cold you can think it's low and put too much in.

At least that's what I always thought.

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:38 am**

^thats how its done at my dads shop^

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 9:41 am**

legacy92ej22t wrote:Off and cold? I thought it was best to let the car warm up to normal operating temp and then let it sit a few minutes, to let the oil drain back into the oil pan, and then check it. Oil expands when it gets hot. If you check it cold you can think it's low and put too much in.

At least that's what I always thought.

That's not how I learned. My father was a Subaru/Volkswagon mechanic for 18 years and he has me check it when it is not *cold* like freezing outside, but normal temps. This way most of the oil is in the pan and not thoughout the engine giving you an accuate reading of how much oil there is in the pan. I seriously doubt that our methods will yield a far different outcome.

http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/simple.html
This website tells how to do it.
"Place your car at the level spot. Stop the engine. Wait for a while to let the engine oil to pour down to the oil pan. Pull the engine oil dipstick. If you don't know where is the engine oil dipstick, check your owner's manual, usually it has a bright handle saying "engine oil". "

Posted: **Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:04 pm**

Ya, that link you give says to do it exactly how I said. It says "stop the engine", therefore the engine was running and won't be "cold".

When you say off and cold, that sounds like you're saying to check the oil without ever running the motor first to warm up the oil, to me.

anyways, it's no big deal.

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