Dry Sump Engine - Dipping the oil when cold

[S3 CGJ]

There are lots of threads on this forum about the methods you should use to dip the oil. i.e. run it up to temperature, sitch the engine off then dip the oil within 20 seconds or so. Or even dip the oil whilst the engine is still running and hot.

However, if you were to dip the oil when the engine was cold, even though there was definitely enough oil in the engine, what reading would you get on the dipstick?

I am just wondering if mine is over filled !!

[andyoleary]

When cold, I think each engine tends to vary - mine shows just under halfway between min and max normally but sometimes a little less.

Andy

[S3 CGJ]

Is it possible that you would get no reading at all even if sufficient oil was in there?

[andyoleary]

Yes, I think so. Always best to check when good and warm though - I make sure the engine is warm, preferably after a half-hour drive or so. Turn the engine off, get out, open service bonnet, pull up dipstick, wipe clean, drop back in again (don't screw the dipstick in) and pull out and check. This normally takes about 30 seconds to do which should be fine enough to get a decent read. Any longer than that and the oil starts to percolate down again.

Andy

[S3 CGJ]

Thanks for that Andy.

Does anybody elses car read zero on the dipstick when dipped cold?

[nelly1]

I've always checked mine cold - too much faffing about otherwise!

Just for reference though, this evening I checked before (stone cold) and after (Oil temp = 85 Deg @ shut-off).....

Cold - bang-on Max.
Hot - about 1" above Max.

So, add about an inch for the 'Hot' readings, but I'll carry on reading mine cold thanks - it's SO much easier!!

After all - an inch here or there (OO-er!!) doesn't mean that much for a dry-sumped system - especially one which holds the best part of 10 litres.

As long as it's not drastically under or over filled - Bob's your Uncle!

[sidewayz]

I have to admit to having over filled mine by half a litre a few months back.
Bugger all happened other than me being paranoid for a month.

[Blue Burner]

S3 CGJ said:

Thanks for that Andy.

Does anybody elses car read zero on the dipstick when dipped cold?

yes this has happened to me - I always run the engine for a minute or so before checking and the marker is normally about 3/4 full. However on the odd occasion it can take longer for the oil to percolate through possibly something or other to do with a dry sump? Anyway I just make sure there is oil showing before a run. She took her time on the recent Chateau Run but thankfully came through in time for a run out with the Lambos.

[Dita]

yes, i read zero on my dip stick when cold. warm it is on max and cold i see nothing. overfilled too before and got it out via tube and vacuum cleaner....