Is the engine oil dipstick calibrated for use when at cold or operating temperatures?

 

If it was a silly question you'd have ten answers already.

I don't know but I recall reading somewhere that the oil level should be checked immediately after turning the engine off. I don't think the temperature is the factor so much as the oil that sticks in the upper engine when it is running.

 

That's a new one on me. I've always just waited a minute or two to let all the oil drain to the sump, then measure. Hot or cold shouldn't matter.

 

[/QUOTE] I don't know but I recall reading somewhere that the oil level should be checked immediately after turning the engine off. I don't think the temperature is the factor so much as the oil that sticks in the upper engine when it is running.[/QUOTE]

I don't know where you read something like that , but whoever wrote it was absoloutly wrong,,
In a wet oil sump (most street engines) need to wait a few minutes after shutting off to let all oil come back to oil pan b4 checking oil level , if not you won't get accurate reading & will over fill it,, (if overfill too much, then crank will have contact with oil in sump when spinning & form air bubbles in oil) not good,

Only in dry sump engines (race engines & somehigh performance street engines)
You need to check oil level while engine running, because in this set up you are not checking oil in oil pan, but the oil in reservoir tank,,

 

No.

Checking oil per OM:......

 

I was wrong. After posting that I found several threads stating check on level ground when cold. I appreciate you guys for giving the correct answer.

But I always run it, turn it off, then check it after it sits about a minute. I'm more concerned about too little oil than too much.

 

Check oil at every fill-up. The amount of engine-off time while you're pumping gas will give the oil enough time to drain back into the sump.

 

I always thought it was stone cold. To read the full, Max oil amount in there. Not half of it still dripping down.

 

It is stone cold. You're right. But I check mine all of the time, including every other time I get gas. It can be a half inch above full (according to some threads) so I check it hot. But that's no the right way to do it. The evil I am concerned about is the pickup tube sucking air. It would have to be SERIOUSLY overfilledor at a crazy angle for the crank lobes or timing chain to splash it or to interfere with engine pressure and that is why we have oil pressure relief valves.

But cold is right. I've read that several places.