Checking Oil

[ben_e71]

A bit confused......

My dad has always told me to check oil when engine really cold - ideally first thing - but reading manual today to find out correct grade of oil for my 1.8 vvti 2001 (is it 5w 30?) the manual says run engine aloow to settle and then check.

So can someone advise - ideally a mechanic or Rac/AA man etc....

[Sooty]

Ben,

When you check the oil level always ensure that the engine has been switched off for at least 5 minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the sump and settle to its level. Also try to make sure that you are on level ground.

[ben_e71]

Ben,

When you check the oil level always ensure that the engine has been switched off for at least 5 minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the sump and settle to its level. Also try to make sure that you are on level ground.

cheers - but if I am doing it first thing in AM is it worth running the engine first?

[Sooty]

It doesn't make a lot of difference

[Black Knight]

The principle is you want to know the oil level when all the oil in the return galleries has drained back into the sump. Therefore you need to give it a few minutes to get back down after the engine is turned off. That can be either overnight or after 5-10 minutes.

What you don't want to do is run the engine for only a couple of minutes. This pumps oil up into the head but because of the viscosity of the oil it doesn't drain back down properly and hence can affect the oil level.

You're not talking about a vast level though so you probably wouldn't even notice it.