Hi folks,
I heard from another Youtuber (not mentioning any names) that the correct way to check engine oil level was to drive the car for 5 miles, park on a flat surface, wait 1min and then check the level.
Normally I fill my engine oil so that it's right on the max mark, but I can't find a flat place to park near where I live. So in the past I've got it to about 3/8" below the max when the engine is cold. I checked it with the above method today and the level is about 1/8" above the min level.
These measurements were taken in the same place with about a 10 degrees pitch/fall on the ground from the property. With the front on the car facing the property. So the slope was higher at the front and lower at the back.
Car is a 16 year old Lexus IS220D. And the dipstick goes towards the rear of the engine. Engine doesn't burn any oil.
Thanks for replies.
Nothing to settle. You're overthinking it.
the correct way to check engine oil level was to drive the car for 5 miles
False. It has to reach operating temp. Follow the procedure in the manual.
park on a flat surface
more or less. Like Doc said gas station is the perfect place.
wait 1min and then check the level.
1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 month ... it doesn't matter. Just don't check it while it's running or immediately after.
Follow the procedure in the manual
I fill my engine oil so that it's right on the max mark,
The level will go up and down. This is why you are given a safe RANGE on the dipstick.
Just make sure you're within it.
Finally, the Great Dipstick Mystery is solved! Enough already.
the correct way to check engine oil level was to
ALWAYS read your owner’s manual!!!
Wow the instructions are so simple, straightforward and easy to understand. And there's pictures too!
Thanks for the reminder @InThrustWeTrust This is usually the method I use. But since I'm a borderline fanatic as Scotty Kilmer refers to and possible idiot as @MountainManJoe is implying - what I'm asking here is how long do you wait for the oil to drain to the bottom of the engine?.
There's a difference between one minute and a few minutes. The Youtube guy (Care Care Nut, who seems to know his stuff) was specific at exactly 1 min. So if he's wrong and I go by his measurement that is 1/8" over min, and add another litre (1.5L between min and max as per the manual instructions) am I overfilling the engine which will cause damage?.
I think 3 minutes is a good in between *few minutes*. If I’m not mistaken, Scotty recommends waiting 3 minutes, too. So does my Honda’s owner’s manual. The risk with not waiting long enough for the oil to drain into the pan, is like you said, a false dipstick reading and the resulting overfilling.
I'm just kidding around. You're not an idiot, but you are making a mountain out of a molehill. I'm pretty sure that the Toyota techs aren't setting their stop-watches for checking the oil level.
Thanks gents, that makes sense. I've been waiting about 3-5 mins in the past. The Lexus techs probably dumped 5.9L in there and it did no damage, and they probably did the oil changes cold as well, and it's still in good shape after 16 + 1/2 years.
Sounds like your doing ok, with the age of the car. Like Doc said maybe if your shopping somewhere and there is a flat. You can check the level when you come out. I think 10 to 15 minutes is reasonable time frame to check it. After running it.
Go to a shopping center with a flat parking lot or gas station to check your oil level.
I can get a pretty good reading at my local gas station and a better one at a family member's house. That part of it isn't too bad. It's just that the other mechanic on Youtube saying you need to have the car at operating temperature with I assume most of the oil still around the engine?.
I'm assuming that's why I was getting a lower reading when I took it that way compared to the higher reading when the engine is cold? The manual says it takes 1.5L to raise the engine oil level from the min mark to the max on the dipstick. So there must have been a litre or so of engine oil in the engine when it was hot?.
Do I want to take that reading where it was only 1/8th above the min mark, and add another litre or so and possibly overfill the engine and cause damage?. Or is there just barely enough?. I suppose anywhere between min and max is good.
But what this youtuber says doesn't make sense to me as I've filled the engine up to 5.2L out of 5.9. So if the current level is 1/8" above min with 5.2L cold and I go by the hot measurement and add another litre or so, it'll be at 6.2L and overfilled.
Alternatively if it's 3/8" below max when cold and I add another 1/2 litre then that will also raise it above max when cold.
I know this is fussy posting, but when I got the car I'm sure the mechanics at Lexus just went by engine oil capacity a put 5.9L in there, and it was showing 3/4" over the max when cold. But maybe that's the correct amount as they're allowing for the oil being in the engine like the other Youtuber recommended?.
This is hurting my brain posting it. Apologies if I sound like a little girl, but this stuff makes me nervous.