When does a person check the oil stick in a car. Should the oil be cold, warm, or hot?
2006-12-19 05:57:44 · 16 answers · asked by Notta 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
it doesn't matter what temp. it is. Just make sure the engine is not running. I would suggest you check your oil at least once a week or maybe more depending if you travel alot. You never know when you will develope a bad oil leak, and you don't want to run a car low on oil.
2006-12-19 06:02:03 · answer #1 · answered by michael081278 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check with engine off.
On Flat level surface.
Check it when it's warm or cold doesn't affect it much since motor oil doesn't expand to the same extent that transmission fluid does. However if the engine was just on, give it a minute for the oil to get back into the oil pan.
2006-12-19 14:02:30 · answer #2 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The optimal time to check the engine oil is when the engine has been off for at least 15 minutes. This allows the oil to drain fully into the oil pan for an accurate reading.
2006-12-19 14:11:04 · answer #3 · answered by bobbyj159 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any of the choices.
Cold, all of the oil is in the crank case and the dip stick is measuring it accurately.
Warm, oil has expanded slightly and residue iol is in the oil galleries reducing the oil level slightly.
Hot, same as above.
When you are topping the oil off, just stay at or below the full mark.
2006-12-19 14:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The engine should be off for at least 10 minutes before you check your engines oil cold or hot.
2006-12-19 16:16:54 · answer #5 · answered by CAPTAIN GENIUS !! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really doesn't matter if it's hot or cold.
The volume of the oil isn't going to increase enough for you to notice the difference, when you are trying to find out whether it is a quart low or not.
As long as you're checking it on a regular basis, you should be fine.
2006-12-19 14:04:36 · answer #6 · answered by Lemar J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the easy way to check the oil is when it is cold ,
vehicle not running and on a level surface.
pull out the dip stick and with a clean cloth clean off the dip stick, install the dip stick , remove the dip stick and check the level .
2006-12-19 14:04:29 · answer #7 · answered by mark h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say,check your oil level with engine cold,cause by that time most of the oil has gone to the bottom of the engine and you will get a true reading,then you can add if necessary.
2006-12-19 14:07:35 · answer #8 · answered by WHAT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is warm, you should take out the metal stick and clean off the dirt and put more oil in there at least every 3 months. or go get an oil change, like i do . it is only 19.95
2006-12-19 14:00:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
let your car run a few minutes to warm the oil up and then turn it off and check it..........the chick above said it costs 19.95 for an oil change but it costs me about 60+ for one becuase i put the full synthetic in my truck
2006-12-19 14:01:41 · answer #10 · answered by eonetiller 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋