Grav

I checked my oil the other day while filling up (with $2.00 per gallon gas.... but that's another story) and the reading appeared to be low in the hatched area. Like I mentioned, it was measured only a few minutes after shutting off the engine.

The next morning (after the car had sat in the garage all night) I checked the oil again before heading off to work. This time the reading was at the top part of the hatched area on the stick.

So my question is when is the best time to check the oil? I think I'm OK with the level I'm at right now, but it's kind of misleading to think that that much oil is always traveling around the engine, and (apparently) taking it's sweet time returning to the pan.

Anyone else experienced this situation before?

-Rich

AdamB

You should first make sure that your car is sitting on a level surface before checking your oil as that can often present mis-leading information if the car is on an incline. Its usually best the run your car for at least 5 minutes before checking your oil as that is a more accurate reading than when the car hasn't been run at all, such as the reading you received after the car sat in the garage all night. I would say the reading you received at the gas station was probably more accurate than the second reading. Try making sure your car is on a level surface and running your car for approximately 5-10 minutes and then checking the oil level.

--AdamB