Ok Ok Ok... Now I know everyone whos seen this is thinkin 'Who owns a truck and doesnt know how to check the oil' but Im not that dumb. Alright, with that out of the way, the thing is, all my previous vehicles have the flat dipstick style, where as my 97 F150 has what I'd best describe as a "bullet-shaped" piece of aluminum on the end of this long steel braided cable. And when I check the oil on a cold engine, the stick is clean, no oil, no nothin. But if I start it up, let it get warm, then shut it off and check, I can get a reading. My main concern initially was that there wasnt enough oil? However, I dont want to overfill it and mainly I just am not experienced with this style of dipstick so I was wondering what to do to get the most accurate reading ie: warm engine, cold engine, etc etc. And yes I know to wipe the stick off, re-insert it, then pull it out and read. Thanks in advance for any input.
-M

 

you can try adding a little but if it's really full when you check it after its warm then drain a little back out.it's fine as long as its good when warm though,as long as its plenty full not just at the bottom

 

it is best to check when cold. if your engine is cold, then ALL of the oil has had time to drain back into the pan, and give you the most acurate reading.

 

How much oil are you putting in there? Our trucks take 6 qts.

 

Drive your truck until it's WARM, then park it on a flat surface and turn it OFF. Wait a couple of minutes and check the level. If you're above the middle of the range, you're fine.

 

i would have to disagree with max

I would not do this because I would want a reading of oil in which the engine has had sufficient time to drain down. Letting it drain down over night will give you the MOST acurate reading.

Max, what advantage does having a warm engine have when checking the oil? Just curious

 

My vote goes to a cold engine on a flat surface. Fill it till it is in the middle of the hash marks and you are good to go.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

EDIT:

I just check the manual and here is what is written.

Check the engine oil each time you
fuel your vehicle.
Check the engine oil level more
frequently if the vehicle is carrying
a heavy load, towing a trailer,
idling for extended periods (like
police, taxi or shuttle service
vehicles) or driven at high speeds
for extended periods of time.
To check the oil:
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level
ground. If the engine is warm, turn
the engine off and wait a few
minutes for the oil to drain into
the oil pan.

Then it goes on to say where the oil level should be.

 

well the book is wrong. the oil should have sufficint time to drain. you can count on the reading being low if the engine is warm

 

So the manual is wrong. I doubt that but you never know. How many people that you know actually have a level driveway? Remember that these manuals have to be written for the dumbest person, so they can’t do any damage as long as they follow instructions. There is no longer a full mark on the dipsticks. For good reason. Over head cam engines take longer for the oil to drain back into the pan than cam in block ones. Do you want to wait an hour for all the oil to drain back so that you can take a more accurate reading. Not very practical. So they devised a system where there is an acceptable range that the oil level should be in. Namely between the marks. As long as the oil is between the marks after allowing a few minutes to drain every thing is fine. I do not disagree that the best way to accurately measure the oil level is on a level surface with sufficient time for all the oil to have drained back into the pan. My driveway is not level so I check it at the gas station. If it is up to or past the middle I don't add any oil. If it is lower I add a ½ litre or if I am in the States a ½ quart. Much a do 'bout nothing.

JMC

 

Even an overhead cam engine will drain 99% of the oil back into the pan in 2-3 minutes tops if the engine is at operating temperature.If the dipstick tube doesn't have enough oil slung into it that it distorts the the level when you pull the stick back out, it doesn't matter when you check it, as long as you are on a level surface...Kevin

 

removed...self-explanatory

 

I have had several complaints of overfilling the oil when I check it cold. The people come back a day later with the motor hot and it reads overful. As oil or any fluid warms up it expands.
Alan

 

hey max mitchell, why dont you learn how to use proper grammar!!!

you have no buisness telling me i cant spell when you don't even know how to use grammar.

by the way, some people will only check the level if the engine has set all night. professional engine builders for example.
so i am not wrong, and dont go saying bologna like that if you cannot prove it.

 

all this about checking oil.

 

Theres no more political barbs being thrown, this is the next best thing?