Sorry for what may be an obvious answer - I thought I overfilled my oil because the dipstick was wet above the MAX level. The car sat for a couple of days and I just went and checked the dipstick and the oil level is exactly where it should be. Since the engine has not been run is this an accurate reading? Thank you in advance.
Oil level on dipstick after a couple of days?
- Thread starter jon81SC
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If it sits for a day or two, all of the oil has drained into the pan that's "drainable". I would call that an accurate reading. I always let my cars sit overnight after an oil change, and check them the next morning.
That would be the most actuate time to read, but slightly overfilling as much as 1/2 quart will not hurt a thing.
Ford actually states that the oil should be hot, and drain back to the sump for 20 minutes before checking the level. On the Transits, it does make a difference-if it reads full after sitting cold overnight it will show overfilled when doing it their way. Depending on how good your filter ADBV is, or if you have a chain tensioner leaking, the level will go up after sitting a couple days (my MGM 4.6 does).
My Volvo shows 1/2 quart low even after sitting for a half hour. In fact it states in the owners manual that after being shutoff, wait 20 minutes before checking the oil level. It should read 1/2 way between the quart low and the full mark on the dip stick. If the car sits over night it reads at the full mark on the dip stick.
I remember reading that on the Fiat Eco Diesel, in the Ram 1500 pickups, it says right in the manual that you have to wait for at least 20 minutes after doing an oil change and adding the new oil, before starting the vehicle.
I'm sure that rule is followed to the letter at all the crowded "Quick Lube" centers.
A lot of people like to call B.S. on it. But it actually is in the manual.
I'm sure that rule is followed to the letter at all the crowded "Quick Lube" centers.
A lot of people like to call B.S. on it. But it actually is in the manual.
My Lucerne's owners manual says the oil must be warm, on level ground and to give the oil several minutes to drain back into the oil pan. The problem with that is after you pull the dip stick out it leaves traces of oil in the dip stick tube which makes it impossible to get a good reading. The best I can tell is I get the same reading the next morning.
Plenty of manufacturers use to suggest similar things in their manuals.
However that way the dipstick is hardly readable on many cars including
my GTI and even impossible to read in case of my Mini Cooper with its
French engine. If manufacturers want me to read oil level hot they need
to design better dipsticks. Hard to compare because dry sump but my 40
year old 3rd car is better in this regard.
.
Maybe it was on a downward slope when you filled it?
If you are very meticulous and don't like to see any "wet" marks or spots on the dipstick, you have to let the car sit overnight with some cars. Otherwise you can basically tell where the oil looks thicker (i.e. has more volume) on the dipstick even if wet (thin film) above.
When I change oil, I do my quick check to make sure it's near F mark (at least over half way between Add and Full). Drive a block or two and check for leaks and another oil level check ... let it sit overnight and do the final check cuz I don't like too much of wet marks. Sometimes the dipstick is wet like 5-8"
When I change oil, I do my quick check to make sure it's near F mark (at least over half way between Add and Full). Drive a block or two and check for leaks and another oil level check ... let it sit overnight and do the final check cuz I don't like too much of wet marks. Sometimes the dipstick is wet like 5-8"
That's some big @ss chain tensioners...
CleanSump
Site Donor 2022
Your owners manual should tell you whether to check warm or cold and how long to wait after shutting off the engine if to be checked warm.
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on my L-series Honda, the oil level reads higher after sitting overnight. manual says to check it hot after waiting at least 3 minutes after shutting it off. Oil level is lower when doing it this way. guess the oil is still in the top end of the engine.
It's an interesting thought exercise but in reality if I check a vehicle five minutes after shutdown or after sitting for five days and it reads acceptable, I'm calling it acceptable.
I don't doubt that some manufacturers claim to wait 20 minutes after an oil change, but that's simply short-sighted engineering and not real world.
I do always let the engine fill the filter after the change then let it sit a few minutes after an oil change, if I'm going to check the dipstick. That's it.
And I do pre-fill vertical filters when possible (something you can bet quickie lubes never do). But still let the oil pump finish it off before checking.
On vehicles where I'm positive about capacity I don't even check anymore. I verify I put in, say, seven quarts based upon empty containers next to me, and send it unburdened by what has been.
I don't doubt that some manufacturers claim to wait 20 minutes after an oil change, but that's simply short-sighted engineering and not real world.
I do always let the engine fill the filter after the change then let it sit a few minutes after an oil change, if I'm going to check the dipstick. That's it.
And I do pre-fill vertical filters when possible (something you can bet quickie lubes never do). But still let the oil pump finish it off before checking.
On vehicles where I'm positive about capacity I don't even check anymore. I verify I put in, say, seven quarts based upon empty containers next to me, and send it unburdened by what has been.
That's my ideal oil check. Check it after it's been sitting over night.
That's what I do.
