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[BazaJT]

I was always taught that to check the oil level in a cars engine two things were required,first the car should be level and second that the engine should be stone cold.Now I'm told that to check it on the Omega that the engine should be run up to temperature and then turned off and left for a couple of minutes and then checked.Which is correct?Indeed does it make much if any difference either way?

[tunnie]

That's the way I was told, after engine has been turned off. To wait a few minutes for the oil to drain down...

[Kevin Wood]

IHMO, it doesn't really matter. I find that oil sticks to the dipstick better when it's cold and therefore more viscous.

If you've run the engine, then I suppose it guarantees that the oil filter and oilways haven't drained down but you also risk getting a false reading if oil is still draining down from the top end (and potentially onto the dipstick as you withdraw it).

[feeutfo]

Ignoring the temp aspect, I'd say the op's description was correct, if the oil had just been changed and insuring the level was correct, filter full, allowing the oil to run down etc.

But once the oil change level was verified, cold and level (ish) sounds normal to me.

So both descriptions work, depending on circumstances IMO.

[Kevin Wood]

Yep. Or the other way to put it is when changing the oil, always check it again after the engine has run.

[tunnie]

Yep. Or the other way to put it is when changing the oil, always check it again after the engine has run.

On V6 it drops by a huge amount as the oil filter fills up, but on the 2.2 as I pre-fill the filter, its much less. But I always check it after engine has been run.

[feeutfo]

Yep. Or the other way to put it is when changing the oil, always check it again after the engine has run.

...and then I'd have some pedantic bugger going on about how long, should it be warm, both aspects affecting how long the oil takes to run down...  Wouldn't I Andy!

I actually check it several times after a change, to see how it settles after switch off and the next cold start.

Then rely on the oil warning to alert, unless I remember. This is pure laziness though, for obvious reasons not recommended in case the warning fails.

[Andy B]

... ...and then I'd have some pedantic bugger going on about how long, should it be warm, both aspects affecting how long the oil takes to run down...  Wouldn't I Andy!
 .....

How very dare you Sir!!!! 

I've never really taken the temp of the oil into consideration, however, on SWMBO's Smart, they all say that it makes a huge difference whether hot or cold, & the oil level should be checked hot! Maybe cos it doesn't take much.   

[aaronjb]

The BMW manual says the same - run for several minutes, switch off, wait a minute and check the level - and the MR2 manual said to check warm after a few minutes standing.

Maybe it's a modern thing; but I was taught much the same as the OP - check when cold & level.

[martin42]

ive always checked oil when its cold,never blown an engine up yet.

[dbug]

cold & level