Good method for checking oil level please?

[shoggyraminator]

OK, I give up. I've just got my 4.5 Cerb and am keen to keep the oil at the correct level.

Now point 1 is the black book says do it when cold, but I keep reading to do it when hot, just after the engine is turned off?

Point 2, and this is the main problem. Every time I dip the stick in I get a different reading, and I'm not just talking a little difference. So come on what is the best way to get a reliable check done with consistent results.

So far every dip has shown the oil level to way past full, which is a bit worrying.

Regards

[Greeny]

Cold - level ground

[high52kojak]

NOT just after engine is turned off, unless its a speed 6 (dry sump) I find it best to give it half an hour to get a consistent reading.

[FarmyardPants]

Try leaving the dipstick out overnight and check with a single dunk of the dipstick the next day.

[stuthemong]

Are you putting it back the same amount each time?

Sounds silly but there is little 'hat' at the top of the stick. If you don't locate that 'hat' properly, a) if you drive like that you'll squirt a bit of oil back up through stick and onto wires around coilpack, but b) you'll be about 5mm wrong on your oil reading!

Make sure you are locating it properly, mine sometimes 'catches' on the way in, so I let it catch to know im there, then feel it skip over to know I'm fully home

Edited by stuthemong on Friday 4th September 19:41

[RUSSELLM]

On my 4.5 i tended to leave the stick out overnight. Or more often than not. I'd take it out when i got to work & dip it in before i went home, ooo er. Leaving the keys on the dipstick, as to not drive off without it

[shoggyraminator]

Cheers for the replys. The dip stick was going fully in each time, but the problem appears to be that it turns around as you shove it down the pipe causing the flat indicator bar to be in different positions. I don't know if when the DS is fully inserted if the end sits at an angle or completely vertical?

Sounds like the overnight idea/few hours with the stick removed and then dunked in once might be the way to go. I'll give this a try.

Cheers again!

[Onzlouk]

I had this problem too and i think if everyones honest they have had it aswell! Its very difficult to get a true reading so if you have only just bought the car hows this for a suggestion; go and get yourself two bottles of Castrol Edge in the correct weight, 15w60 rings a bell, then drain the oil and swap the filter and refill with the correct amount according to the book (six litres?).
This isnt a difficult job and you get peace of mind that your oil is fresh and correct and you dont end up hearing certain parts of your engine trying to vacate the block whilst on a weekend hoon because you THOUGHT the oil was ok.

HTH

[Byker28i]

On my 4.2 the dipstick is at the rear and you have to put it in a certain way, almost feed it in.
I do mine cold, in the garage as I know that's level.
Silly question, but you are wiping the dipstick every time?

[Mr M]

Mine's a complete enigma. Looked at it yesterday and it was all over the stick even after it had been wiped and re dipped, and it hasn't been used since Tuesday.

[RUSSELLM]

Byker28i said:

On my 4.2 the dipstick is at the rear and you have to put it in a certain way, almost feed it in.
I do mine cold, in the garage as I know that's level.
Silly question, but you are wiping the dipstick every time?

My 4.2's the same, and the readings are a lot easier/more consistent to take than the 4.5

[pole]

mines a 4.2 with dip stick at the front, as the stick is dipped in it tends to want to twist as it makes its way down to the sump, picking up oil, bloody nightmare.

[mikeinsheffield]

Mines the 4.2 with the dipstick at the front, that has to wind and twist it's way down to the sump. Best advice I had was from Joo (TCS) who told me to check when cold, leaving the dipstick out when parking the car up. I ALWAYS leave it in the garage with the bonnet up, on trickle charge, with the dipstick across the top of the engine, wiped clean, insert once, take reading.

Leaving the bonnet up helps to remember the dipstick it out. When I took the Cerb to Le Mans this year, obviously didn't leave the bonnet up, started the car, drove about 1/2 mile before remembering about the bl00dy dipstick!!! Engine off, dipstick back in, it had made a nice mess of oil mist and spray but not too disasterous...... DOH! Now if I'm away in the car and leave the dipstick out, I leave something in front of the dash so I can't see the clocks to remind me.....