Avoid Oil Level Check Mistake That Could Cost You Your Engine!

[@greggorr314]

Upwards of a quart of oil can be sequestered in the "top end" & through circulation ducts during running & right after turning off. Waiting ten minutes allows its return to the pan where it's really being measured.

[@PandaBewok]

Yup, you're totally right! That's why letting it sit for a bit is super important.

[@whlawson5812]

The tube, for dipping in the dipstick, goes into the engine by another 4 inch. The dip stick goes into this tube and it stop 1 inch from the end of this tube. Dipping for engine oil before start it in the morning & and letting it running on idling rpm before dipping it again is important. Engine oil level should drop by 20 to 25mm while idling and you should see 5mm of oil at the end of dipstick. If your engine oil level actually did not drop while idling your crankcase pressure is actually higher than it normally should be!.

[@PandaBewok]

Wow, that's a really insightful observation about the crankcase pressure!

[@whlawson5812]

@PandaBewok today while engine is still warm at 40+ degree C I dip the engine oil level and it just cover the 'a' on the max or 36mm from the end of dip stick. After starting I waited for 2 minutes and noted -9.8psi in the engine intake manifold. Dip again while the engine is still idling. Oil level on the end of dip stick is 5mm. Open the engine oil filling cap and dip it twice while the engine is still idling and the engine oil level is at 16mm. So 16+25 = 41mm of the oil level being higher than the end of suction nozzle for the engine's internal oil pump. Basically the engine's sump has a negative pressure of about -8mm water column while the engine is idling with the filling cap closed. This would be with good PCV & good hoses. Two months ago I had visually observed that the end of the tube, for inserting in the dipstick, is at the same plane as the end of the suction nozzle for the pump of engine oil. So at exactly on the arrow for max level it is 33mm to the tip of dip stick + 25mm it is 58mm of oil height to the suction nozzle of engine oil pump when engine is not running. Need to ponder a bit on this. Regards.

[@ChristopherHughes-x9y]

Ironically Scotty Kilmer just posted a video saying not to check it when the engine is cold. I will not follow his advice and I WILL check it when cold.

[@akimbanguehe3454]

@@ChristopherHughes-x9y ol' Scotty contradicts himself three times a day. Also he dies weekly. And shows (not) mechanic scams caught on camera. Also regularly disowns his son. I like the guy and his sense of humour but he is all out for views with his little tricks.