Ben3.2TT@BC

should I check it when the engine is on or off? I was checking the engine oil last night and I think I got a higher engine oil level when I turned off the engine.

Yippers®

Off, car level and oil warmed...wait 3 minutes for oil to settle, then check. Do NOT overfill.

Ben3.2TT@BC

Is it okay to check the oil level when the car is parked overnight? I was checking the oil level on my brother's Mk4 Golf 2.0 which was parked overnight and I was shocked to see his car hardly have any oil left. Sine his car is under the oil consumption program, he drove to the dealership to report this to the mechanic and he said the oil level is fine.

Alf Arkin

Always with engine off, you don't even want to remove the dipstick while the engine is running ... Bad! (-:

If you let it sit for a while, some more oil will drain to the oil pan, but not that much.

Ben3.2TT@BC

oops...:-P

Yippers®

and checking it cold will give you a lower reading. If you are close to the fill line but under and top it off, you run the risk of over filling. As I said before, over-filling can have dire consequences. If you over-fill, it is possible to introduce oil into the cat. Also, with many engine designs over-filling the oil can raise the pan level to the point that the crank swings thru the oil introducing loads on the crank that can cause damage.
I don't know what 'hardly any oil' left means but if there was no oil showing on the dipstick when checked cold, I would think that warm it would still be low. I would check it again with the engine shut off after the oil is fully warmed.