Oil Dip Stick

[Bitsyncmaster]

My Dip stick only has two notches cut in it. So I assume you want the oil level to between those two notches. So do you check it with the engine hot or cold? There seems to be a much larger gap on those marks then I've seen on other engines.

[WelmoedJ]

My Dip stick only has two notches cut in it. So I assume you want the oil level to between those two notches. So do you check it with the engine hot or cold? There seems to be a much larger gap on those marks then I've seen on other engines.

The stick has only 2 notches, the "in between notches" quantity is approx. 1 liter (1.057 quarts)

According to the Owner's Handbook you should:
- wait for 5 minutes after engine turn off.
- be cautious as the oil may be hot.

I usually only check before I start driving.
So, this is with a cold engine.
After having driven the car, I indeed wait some 5-10 mintues to allow the oil to flow back into the oil pan.

Hope this helps.

[Tillsy]

I gave my baby a good run to heat her up, thin the oil out, and make sure all the crud was nicely mixed in before I emptied her guts.

But when I refilled her (to the upper end of the gap between those two notches) I only started her for 30 seconds to suck some of it into the new filter - the level certainly dropped well down so then topped her to the upper end of that gap again. I didn't keep her, or intentionally re-run her, to any kind of temperature.

Since then I've checked her a few times before and after shakedowns (eg cold and hot) and she was rock solid within the two notches each time so I figure all good :)

Technically measuring should always be done cold though shouldn't it?

[DMC1983]

I gave my baby a good run to heat her up, thin the oil out, and make sure all the crud was nicely mixed in before I emptied her guts.

But when I refilled her (to the upper end of the gap between those two notches) I only started her for 30 seconds to suck some of it into the new filter - the level certainly dropped well down so then topped her to the upper end of that gap again. I didn't keep her, or intentionally re-run her, to any kind of temperature.

Since then I've checked her a few times before and after shakedowns (eg cold and hot) and she was rock solid within the two notches each time so I figure all good :)

Technically measuring should always be done cold though shouldn't it?


You'd want to keep it cold when checking because it will give you the most accurate reading. A good amount of oil stays in the pan while the other portion goes to the valvetrain. When you start the car and oil is pumped to the head; you just lost that percentage of oil to account for. It's a touchy subject, but from the consensus it's checked cold

[David T]

You check the oil before you start the motor that day so all of it has drained back into the pan. The car should be on level ground. It should be between the the low and the high notch. I aim for the middle. It takes approximately 1 quart to go from the low notch to the high notch. Make sure you are fully inserting the dipstick when checking (called "short-sticking"). A favorite trick by gas station attendants to cram an expensive quart of oil into the motor. They even will show you how low it is! Once you get the level right you should not have to add any oil between oil changes unless you have a heavy leaker.
David Teitelbaum

[Bitsyncmaster]

(called "short-sticking"). A favorite trick by gas station attendants to cram an expensive quart of oil into the motor. They even will show you how low it is! Once you get the level right you should not have to add any oil between oil changes unless you have a heavy leaker.
David Teitelbaum

Back to 1960 in our time machine.