Well ok to be honest I'm not really sure what the manual said on how to check engine oil on my old 78 rx7 I owed though seem to recall on gas cars one could just walk up to the engine and check the oil with the engine cold.

So this is my reasoning...bear with me a moment please -

Wondering, if in a warm climate such as florida, could one just check the engine oil with the engine dead cold and if it is with in the lines then that would mean that it would be fine after one starts the car and lets it warm up then turn off and wait five minutes.

What I'm trying to understand is if checking the oil per the manual in meant to mean that all (most) of the oil has drained back into the oil pan after warmed and five minutes off time. If so it would seem to reason (thus the part that I assume my thinking is wrong) that if the oil is not so cold as to NOT allow most of it to be in the pan when checked when engine is cold then checking the oil level when cold, if between the lines would mean that if I then checked it after a brief warm up and five minute cool down then I would have even more indicated on the dip stick at that time.

Anyway, I'm sure my thinking is off but still it would be nice to be able to just check the oil level when engine is cold. Hell one can even begin to see the oil on the darn stick when cold and darn harder to see it correctly when oil is warm/hot.

You may now begin to laugh or click past this post.
thanks

 

You can check the oil with the engine cold and it will be a bit lower than the warm reading. It's more important to check coolant level when the engine is warm because that level fluctuates much more.

 

motorups, you need to lay off the drugs before posting. elsewize try some prozac before checking the oil next time, it'll be easier on you. darkbrew, pls don't check the coolant level when the engine is hot (warm), it's dangerous, ansd esp motorups, don't even THINK about checking the coolant level, it'll hurt.

 

"Click"

 

LOL!

 

LOL... You don't have to remove the cap to check the level. The reservoir is translucent.

 

...psssst...don't tell motorups, ok?

 

 

there is little difference in checking oil warm or cold. whatever is convenient.

 

Your suppose to check the oil when it's warm.

 

You check oil either warm or cold. The important things are a) do it when the car has been off for at least 5 minutes so the oil has drained into the pan, and b) do it on level ground.

It used to be that you'd check coolant when cold. But now that cars have translucent overflow tanks, you just look at the tank. You usually should not take the radiator cap off when the engine is hot.

Ken

 

"You usually should not take the radiator cap off when the engine is hot."

Gee..............thanks Ken!
I know what you were saying........it just read strange!

 

I usually check mine at all three points of an oil change (before, after fill and after warm up). Its usually about 1/8 quart lower right after shut-down.
I like to run my oil just below the midpoint on the stick (I like to keep the level in the pan as low as possible to facilitate the turbo drain), so why don't you just do the same before/after experiment and see which level you find more attractive?

 

not sure I follow but o'well.
To me it is harder to see the oil level on the dip stick when the engine is warm. At least to me the oil has a drop darker color when cold (well 70 degrees temp outside) thus easlier to read on the rx8 dip stick then again with less then 1.5k miles on it I guess the oil is still very clean in color anyway.

I will just check it when cold for now though will go pickup two bottles of castrol gtx 5w20 and add a quarter quart when I get back to top her off.