checking oil??

01-27-2003, 05:50 PM

I'm sure this is a dumb question...but I thought I'd ask it anyway. Does it matter if you check your oil when the engine is warm or cold? You are supposed to check it when the engine is at normal operating temperature, right? And if you should check it when warm, I guess you have to wait a few minutes after driving the car...so that the oil can drain back down into the pan to get an accurate reading?

mustangII460 · 01-27-2003, 09:27 PM

I check mine cold mostly, keeps me from burning my hands.

But, If I check it hot, a couple of minutes sitting is good enough, say, going into store to get a pepsi and coming back.

My guess is that maybe a half a quart might drain back into the pan?

Hot oil will show maybe a "tad" more on the stick. But I really don't worry to much about that.

USMC302 · 01-29-2003, 02:12 AM

mustangII460, just curious, is your 460 EFI or carb? Thanks

PKRWUD · 01-29-2003, 02:32 AM

You should check it cold. You can check it warm/hot, but for an accurate reading, check it cold, on level ground.

Take care,
~Chris

Jthompson · 01-30-2003, 08:52 AM

honestly now, what is wrong with burning your hands???

I have been doing it for years now, between changing the spark plugs on a warm engine, etc, that now I can pull warm (not scalding hot) items out of the oven without mits. Works real well, and saves me a lot of time.

The wife loves it as well too (she says "come here pot holder hands")

mustangII460 · 01-30-2003, 06:22 PM

The problem with my hands is I really have lost alot of feeling in them. Humm... whats that smell.....Crap......my dam hands are burning. I try to avoid both ends of the spectrum.

Mach 1 · 01-30-2003, 09:47 PM

You might want to check your owners manual.

I believe manufactures actually have the dipstick calibrated to correspond to the proper level depending on weather it is hot or cold, as per their recommendation in the manual.

I read that somewhere, maybe from those "car guys" dudes that are in the newspaper?

01-27-2003, 05:50 PM	#1
Simi Stang Guest Posts: n/a	checking oil?? I'm sure this is a dumb question...but I thought I'd ask it anyway. Does it matter if you check your oil when the engine is warm or cold? You are supposed to check it when the engine is at normal operating temperature, right? And if you should check it when warm, I guess you have to wait a few minutes after driving the car...so that the oil can drain back down into the pan to get an accurate reading?

01-27-2003, 09:27 PM	#2
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	I check mine cold mostly, keeps me from burning my hands. But, If I check it hot, a couple of minutes sitting is good enough, say, going into store to get a pepsi and coming back. My guess is that maybe a half a quart might drain back into the pan? Hot oil will show maybe a "tad" more on the stick. But I really don't worry to much about that. __________________ Frank

01-29-2003, 02:12 AM	#3
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	mustangII460, just curious, is your 460 EFI or carb? Thanks __________________

01-29-2003, 02:32 AM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	You should check it cold. You can check it warm/hot, but for an accurate reading, check it cold, on level ground. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

01-30-2003, 08:52 AM	#5
Jthompson Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Corona, Ca. Posts: 80	honestly now, what is wrong with burning your hands??? I have been doing it for years now, between changing the spark plugs on a warm engine, etc, that now I can pull warm (not scalding hot) items out of the oven without mits. Works real well, and saves me a lot of time. The wife loves it as well too (she says "come here pot holder hands") __________________ Jeremy 1986 Mustang GT Convertible 1972 2 door 302 Maverick 1994 POS head gasket clubbed broke down T-bird with $6000 left to pay off

01-30-2003, 06:22 PM	#6
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	The problem with my hands is I really have lost alot of feeling in them. Humm... whats that smell.....Crap......my dam hands are burning. I try to avoid both ends of the spectrum. __________________ Frank

01-30-2003, 09:47 PM	#7
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	You might want to check your owners manual. I believe manufactures actually have the dipstick calibrated to correspond to the proper level depending on weather it is hot or cold, as per their recommendation in the manual. I read that somewhere, maybe from those "car guys" dudes that are in the newspaper? __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

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