Check Engine Oil Level WARM or COLD?

[@ChavezDIY]

***CHECK VIDEO DESCRIPTION FOR LINKS+UPDATES+CORRECTIONS+MORE INFO***

[@seanpop2886]

A pro tip for people who have difficulty reading the dipstick... With a cold engine on a level surface, remove the dipstick, wipe it, then carefully lay it down so that it does not get any contamination on it. Wait approximately 5 minutes, calmly put the dipstick in and steadily remove it after a few seconds. What that does is it allows the oil that was kind of dragged up in the dipstick tube to flow down and not cause a false high reading. You always think of things expanding when they're hot. With an engine that's hot, there's a chance that a lot of oil is still at the top of the engine and slowly dripping down. When you check on a cold engine, the oil has had a chance to slowly drain back down to the pan and the dipstick area. Something else, in America at least, change your oil every 5,000 miles if you want your engine to last. Not elected government officials at the EPA grade vehicles by their consumption of fossil fuels, including transmission and motor oil! If they were really concerned for the environment, they would have you change the oils more frequently. Why? Because the carbon footprint by having to trash a vehicle whose engine or transmission has been ruined by lack of timely fluid changes is a lot bigger than the oils removed from a vehicle and taken to an auto parts store or repair shop for recycling.

[@ChavezDIY]

5k mi intervals for oil changes is what I hear a lot of ppl on youtube recommend. I personally change it 6k mi or 6months, whatever comes first.

[@seanpop2886]

@@ChavezDIY I believe that the engineering specifications for Subaru four-cylinder boxer engines is at 6,000 miles. I've seen quite a few Toyota engine specifications where they state 6,000km. Unfortunately, too many people, and this includes Toyota service department employees from service advisors to actual technicians, all believe what the government has told them via Toyota and all the other manufacturers.

[@terry7893]

Why calmly? Why not do it with anger?

[@seanpop2886]

@@terry7893 Because the oil will be scared to come out and you will not get an accurate reading!

[@HourRomanticist]

​@@seanpop28863000-5000 miles is best depending on the vehicle is what I have heard. A lot of car companies will tell you to change 6k-10k. Well, doing that will get you to 100k but once your out of warranty everything will begin to break down and then they can sell you parts 😂

[@PersonaN007Grata]

When you checked it cold, all the oil settled down into the oil pan. When you checked it warm, some of the oil was still suspended higher up in the engine. That’s why it looked like there was more oil when the engine was cold.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yes, that's correct. =)

[@edubb2491]

So why does the manual say warm your engine?

[@biggface7]

@@edubb2491 Exactly

[@mem1701movies]

@@ChavezDIY I thought the cold looked lower and warm higher

[@ChavezDIY]

@@mem1701movies What do you mean, are you saying the cold level looked lower In the video? or that you expected to see the cold level lower? In the video, checking the oil level with a cold engine resulted in the level showing about half a quart higher on the dipstick compared to checking it warm.

[@gauravenglish4676]

To the point no time waste thank you

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! =)

[@xxCablexx]

great video, I've been hearing to check your oil when it's cold, but my manual says to check it every time I fill up the fuel, so basically to check it warm, and I noticed the same thing too, the difference is like a quart or more

[@ChavezDIY]

Some old mechanic rules that worked for decades may not hold well over time. It's important to read the owner's manual for your own car. I have the OEM service manual for my car and while it was expensive ($90) it has been worth every cent.

[@ZanesFacebook]

If you check it while you're fueling, which the manual suggests, then you're likely checking it "hot," not warm. "Hot" means at normal operating temperature. "Warm" means nothing, but is generally assumed to be between 30-45 minutes AFTER turning off a "hot" engine. "Cold" means ambient temperature, or about 6 hours after the last time the engine was shut off.

[@XxChuyoxX]

The Honda dip sticks are so much better than Toyotas lol it was so easy to get a clean reading on my rsx. On my Camry and Highlander the dipstick always has oil on it even after wiping so it's hard to get a clean reading.

[@ChavezDIY]

Yeah, on some cars it takes more effort to read the dipstick.

[@tinleo333]

If you are having oil problems is better to check before starting the engine then you can check when warm for perfection

[@ChavezDIY]

Yeah. If you have oil problems you need to fix your oil problems, hehe. I know someone that has a 2002 Mustang that has an oil leak at the main engine seal. At that point, your priority is to make sure you have enough oil to at least show up on the dipstick every morning before turning it on.

[@Bane1Mirin]

Exactly

[@grandtheftauto1233]

Great video and nice comparison I think the excessive rating is everything above the top circle, as the 3 arrow is coming from above that point to the line intersecting it.

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks! I agree with you on the excessive rating, as long as you don't go above the top circle (or below the bottom circle), you're good.

[@grandtheftauto1233]

@@ChavezDIY thanks Miguel I’m big on reading the owners manuals too but even I missed this recommendation. Keep up the great content

[@epicsseven7686]

And we have to remember about gravity. When you start your engine up. Gravity from the engine and pump is going to pull the oil away from the pan into the chambers where the Pistons, crankshaft etc are at. When the engine cools down. The oil drops back down into the pan.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's a good point. =)

[@ritagamez3732]

Thank you. Short, and simple instructions. 👏👏👏👍

[@ChavezDIY]

I'm glad it was helpful! That's my style of making videos =)

[@ranger178]

they make the directions for checking oil level to be convenient for when you stop car for gas you can check level and that is what oil level will be when you are driving around after car sits a long time more oil slowly drips down to pan so it is a bit higher if it has been sitting overnight it does not have to be exact just somewhere in normal range too much oil gets hit by cranks and gets frothy and it goes up PCV vent and gets sucked into air intake and burned in engine.

[@willfleischauer]

I’ve been changing my oil since I was 16 I always wondered about this

[@ChavezDIY]

There's a lot of great information in the owner's manuals. You can find them online if your car didn't come with it. I enjoy looking through my car's OEM Service Manual (repair manual), it was worth every penny.

[@barkerbiz]

Measure cold. But Fill to 70% between the Marks. Check once a month. Shimples.

[@stephaniepinkney6044]

Thank you for this info. After looking at my manual, it says to make sure the engine has been off for 2 hours before checking. Kind of that in between hot/cold.

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome! There's a lot of helpful information in the owner's manual and the service manual of each vehicle.

[@hellboundTX333]

Been an auto tech for 25 years. As long as you can read the oil on the dipstick, you're probably ok. 😂 if you put it in and pull it out and its bone dry, you need to take better care of your car!

[@ChavezDIY]

💯. Some people don't even check their dipstick 😂

[@terry7893]

The difference is that on a warm engine some of the oil is still in the oil filter and throughout the engine and still coming back down into the pan. A cold engine = any oil that was going to drain, has done so.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's right! =)

[@brandontyler9278]

So you'll get a better reading checking cold? That's the opppste of what you say in the video.

[@terry7893]

@@brandontyler9278 I don't think you're supposed to check them "cold" per se, but stop on a level surface, turn the car off and wait 10 minutes for the oil to drain down out of the engine and into the oil pan. See what your owner's manual suggests.

[@brandontyler9278]

@@terry7893 I did that because that's what my owners manual says but both readings the oil was like all the way up to where the plug is so I either did it wrong or 10-15 minutes isn't long enough that's why I now think you can get a better reading when cold.

[@terry7893]

@@brandontyler9278 If you have too MUCH oil, you can blow an oil seal. You don't want too much. This is not rocket science and there's a margin of error as indicated on your dipstick, so get it right.

[@roybatty2030]

My Subaru has one mark for hot (higher) and another for cold (lower).

[@ChavezDIY]

There will be differences between engine manufacturers. As long as you follow your owner's manual for your car you're good.

[@ZanesFacebook]

My first car, a 99 Buick riviera was similar, except one side of the stick was labeled hot and the other side cold. Every car I've owned since then either had the 3 holes, or the hatch marks. I wonder if that dipstick was oem or a generic replacement

[@hanaashaba1263]

Thanks for sharing and your video is the best

[@ChavezDIY]

Most welcome! =)

[@jeffreyulery2182]

The biggest factor is just checking the oil period. If your checking it and not over filling it your good

[@ChavezDIY]

Yes, its important to check the oil. Follow your vehicle's owner's manual on how to check the oil.

[@juiceone01]

Bro has me reading owners manual that has never even been opened by 1st owner 😂

[@ChavezDIY]

😆😆😆

[@Unplugged704]

I have an 08 Lexus and 19 4Runner. Cannot find manual for either 🤣🤣🤣

[@thewillsfamilyaccount6486]

Nicely done! 😊

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks! 😊

[@chaddrumm6809]

Checking cold helps prevent over filling.

[@ChavezDIY]

I recommend following the owner's manual for checking the oil level and just aim for the middle of the dipstick when filling up the engine with oil.

[@HumbleSiPilot77]

Who noticed that dipstick was backwards in the K engine? That is a K20 isn't it?

[@ChavezDIY]

It's a K24A2. Good eye, that's funny, I didn't even notice that in the finished video. Yeah at 1:51 the orientation of the handle of the dipstick is inserted backwards. But at 1:52 its a different clip at a different angle and the orientation of the dipstick was accurate. Sometimes I take photos or videos just to show certain things even though everything may not be setup correctly or in chronological order. The 1:50 clip was just to pan into the engine while it was running because I'm talking about running the engine and I probably just put the dipstick in quickly to not leave the hole open. Rest assured that the dipstick was in the proper orientation when I checked it. Sometimes I forget to click record and I need to retake the shot or improvise in some other way. Each video has its own little backstory.

[@johnnywishbone1349]

All my manuals say run for several minutes too. And cool for several after. That’s what I’ve done too

[@ChavezDIY]

I haven't always checked it warm because I've been told many times by old school mechanics to check it cold. I'll definitely be following the owner's manual.

[@elypeachy3296]

@@ChavezDIY Ain't it funny they don't explain why?

[@ChavezDIY]

@@elypeachy3296 Haha! Yeah, I don't expect a response.

[@mrsmith8436]

If you have a reference and know what the level should be on the dipstick when its cold vs when the engine is warm then what difference does it make if you check it warm or cold? Put another way if I know the level will be even with the top mark when its cold and half way between when its warm then it shouldn’t matter when I check then level as long as I know where it should be on the dipstick. Consider this. The whole point in checking the engine oil is first and foremost to make sure it is present and 2nd to check the level and observe any changes ie… oil consumption. If your oil leaked out for some unknown reason after the last time you ran the engine and you follow the owners manual then you will be starting and engine with NO OIL. Not good! If however you check the oil cold you will see no oil on the dipstick and immediately know something is wrong and investigate and or put oil in the engine before starting it. Think about it. By the way Toyota manuals also used to say that a quart of oil per 1000 miles of use was considered normal. No sane mechanic or engine builder would agree with that. Toyota is trying to compensate for owner behavior and complaints of too much oil by telling you to check it after warm up. This is the same reason they removed the transmission dip sticks years ago. People didn’t understand how to check transmission fluid levels and complained when nothing was wrong.

[@ChavezDIY]

You got a lil system that works for you, cool. It's up to each individual to decide what they want to do with the information. The main thing I want to get across to people is to read your owner's manual instead of taking advice from random strangers.

[@WizzdummHeadley]

SPOT ON !

[@chazchavez3017]

Thank you primo!

[@ChavezDIY]

You're welcome primo!! =)

[@m.o545]

Mine is less when it's cold and full when it's warm 😮 the other way around.

[@ChavezDIY]

It's okay, not all engines are engineered the same way. What's more important is that you follow the instructions in your car's owners manual.

[@msmashik]

Great video

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks! =)

[@dawnbrookman]

cold or slightly warm doesn't make a difference What does matter is that the engine oil is in the bottom on the oil pan and not throughout the engine, So either cold or after waiting several minutes after turning off it will have drained down to the oil pan.

[@ChavezDIY]

Several minutes after turning off the car is considered checking it "warm". Just follow what your owner's manual says.

[@boysinhonolulublue5956]

Love my 1995 Corolla so bulletproof

[@ChavezDIY]

The Corolla was good to me except for when the distributor went out on me. I didn't know anything about car repair back then and a Toyota dealer conned me into paying $1200 for the diagnosis and new distributor. It was reliable, safe, but there was no joy or thrill in driving it, haha.

[@iyou011]

Thank you for this!!

[@ChavezDIY]

No problem! 😊

[@misters2837]

The MORE oil in pan when Cold, is the EXACT reason I Change Oil with an "Overnight Cold" engine.

[@ChavezDIY]

I also drain the oil on a cold engine. Even though people say it flows out faster on a warm engine, the oil filter on the Honda K24 engine is in an inconvenient location. A location where your forearm will touch the exhaust manifold or other hot engine parts and its not comfortable to say the least.

[@misters2837]

@@ChavezDIY Oh Definitely, warm oil flows faster...But in a DIY situation you're usually not in that big of a hurry...(A Shop, is a different story)... My Toyota has Anti-theft which shuts off the fuel injection...so I have a key that is cut without the chip...After I add oil, I use said key to spin the engine over until the oil light goes out...On other vehicles that I have (Fords) I use a bump button to jump the solenoid...That way the engine only has 2 seconds of no oil pressure vs almost 10! - I would be considered "Anal" about it...but then again most of my vehicles were "retired" at 350,000-400,000 miles... I must be doing something correctly? I have a Generator that was used at my Cabin, before we had power ran to it...I have a 2QT pre-oil system that was a manual ball valve, it was opened prior to the engine starting, it would overfill the crankcase by 2qts for a few seconds, but would pre-lube the entire engine immediately, then Started the engine, it would refill that reservoir, and the valve would be shut again...It was put on the generator by my father, as it would sit for long periods of time, and it was too hard on the starter to "prime crank it" like I do my vehicles.

[@edubb2491]

​@@ChavezDIYthanx for the vid..but to get an understanding..the oil level will look lower with a cold engine..to where a warm engine will read higher on the dipstick? Cause my 16 honda accord reads lower with cold oil..and a bit higher with warm oil..also..if i slowly put the dipstick back down..it will read less..then when i put the dip stick back in realitivly fast..make sense?..lol..thanx!🤷

[@ChavezDIY]

​@@edubb2491 For the 2016 Accord Sedan, the manual techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/AH/AT2A1616OM/enu/AT2A1616OM.PDF on page 519, says to wait 3 minutes after turning off engine to check dipstick. So pretty much check it warm. Wait 3 mins, then pull dipstick out, wipe it clean, then insert it again, and check the oil level. The reading should be the same if you do it fast or slow. Just do it normal, not fast and not slow.

[@johndoe3485]

Bro, if full is "excessive" then 1/2 a quart above "excessive" means your screwed? But i hear people say 1/2 quart over is okay. Even seen Scotty say "a 1/2 quart over is okay, but 1 quart over is a problem."

[@ChavezDIY]

Toyota is the one who said that at the full mark it is excessive. As long as you are somewhere between low and full you are good. If you want to run your engine with 1/2 quart over the full mark you can go right ahead and do that.

[@atvideography1957]

Oil are no longer cheap😥

[@ChavezDIY]

I buy my oil at Walmart. I haven't checked to see if the price of engine has gone up.

[@imho2278]

Poor you.

[@lRoMaNl25]

Well, still cheaper than engines, right?

[@barkerbiz]

Ive been working engines all my life. Most engine can be checked warm. Toyota Hiace has a double bend flat blade dip stick. Its practically impossible to read hot. Removing and wait to drain improves things. (as poster below says) personally? I say; Dont make it so complicated. Just apply common sense. The difference between hot and cold is prob 1/2 qt or lets say a cup full? No big deal. And we know we dont want it too high. So. Measure cold. But Fill to 70% between the Marks. Check once a month. Shimples.

[@ChavezDIY]

I recommend people follow the instructions on their owner's manual.

[@thealchemist5761]

Why does the did stick thing never work for me? My cars have litterally been empty and the reading always said it was full. My car was litterally making that gurgling sound and it still said full! Thank God I went with my first mind and put oil in because I believed my husband when he read the dip stick in one of my cars and the heads got blown.

[@ChavezDIY]

That's interesting. I'm not familiar with a dipstick not marking correctly. Maybe the original dipstick was changed for an aftermarket one. Most cars also come with an oil indicator light for low pressure or low oil level. If you were low on oil the light should have come on too. Too much oil is just as bad as not enough oil.

[@thealchemist5761]

@@ChavezDIY The oil light came on but it was reset because he had supposedly done an oil change. I'm thinking maybe the cap wasn't replaced properly.

[@santaisantai6830]

My oil at max level when cold but upper max line on warm

[@ChavezDIY]

Make sure to follow your owner's manual instructions on how to check your oil level. Not all manufacturers have the same instructions.

[@dearsal6761]

Which one is the true one to rely on??

[@ChavezDIY]

Follow the instructions in your car's owners manual. You can do a Google search for your make and model if you don't have it.

[@unconventionalforager6389]

Many thanks

[@ChavezDIY]

You are welcome! =)

[@boysinhonolulublue5956]

Jokes on Scotty I leak oil so my oils always clean everytime I get under there and change it 😂😂

[@ChavezDIY]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Therealestrunnerluda]

Just trying to understand why warm. So it can expand? If so it should be higher than cold. Or is it to check a more operating level with oil in other places instead of all settled.

[@ChavezDIY]

I don't have the answer. These instructions are provided by the engineers that made the engine. Maybe Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained knows why.

[@YskMarquis]

Because when it's warm the oil thins out so it's more accurate to operating Temps as oil viscosity changes with temperature.

[@YskMarquis]

Hence why oil for example, 5w-30, means that when the engine is cold, the oil is thin, so it can quickly lubricate everything. When the engine warms up, the oil acts as a thicker oil. But, since oil viscosity changes with temperature, the oil remains the appropriate viscosity for vehicle operation. Oil viscosity engineered to stay as consistent as possible as the engine temperature changes. This is why different engines need different oils; a 4 cylinder will take a different amount of time to heat up than a 6 cylinder.

[@YskMarquis]

@Zikri warm/hot oil expands, Not too sure why the reading would be lower. Top mounted oil filter might be why but again, I'm not confident that's just a guess

[@elypeachy3296]

I would also assume that in a sitting engine oil has had time to drain to bottom while after running engine oil will have some oil displacement?

[@Scrollupone]

Do both?

[@ChavezDIY]

No, just do what your owner's manual says.

[@Scrollupone]

@@ChavezDIY I’m confused. What would I hurt by checking it cold before warming it n checking it again? Actually question

[@ChavezDIY]

You're right, it won't hurt anything, go right ahead and check it twice.

[@phyvijay9]

To the point .. 1000 likes from my side ..

[@ChavezDIY]

Thanks brother! =)

[@AlexFernando1996]

Same for my car...

[@ChavezDIY]

Awesome! There's a lot of good info in those manuals.

[@campcop9214]

I would have thought warm hot oil would rise as it thins out not the other way round

[@ChavezDIY]

By rise do you mean that it would mark higher on the dipstick when hot?

[@campcop9214]

Yeah that's what I'd have thought, hence most seem to say check when warmed up to get true reading

[@ChavezDIY]

Warm oil does expand, but you gotta keep in mind that when the engine is running the oil gets pumped out of the oil pan and into other areas like the crankshaft, camshafts, and underside of the pistons...all that pumping of oil to other areas decreases the amount of oil that's left in the oil pan. If the oil somehow magically got hot and never left the oil pan, then yeah it would mark higher on the dipstick.

[@campcop9214]

So cold checking is more accurate your saying?

[@ChavezDIY]

@@campcop9214No. For the most accurate reading, follow the instructions in your owner's manual.

[@CristinaLillo-e4j]

U mean checking it hot would missed some oil......????

[@ChavezDIY]

The manual for my car says to check it hot. Checking it hot would not miss any oil.

[@Kresm960]

Checking the oil in my RSX when warm doesn’t help at all

[@ChavezDIY]

That's interesting.

[@romanc.5074]

I go with uncle Scotty, a cold engine.

[@williams9071]

Engine oil these days ain't cheap. But it is compared to engines. I spend over 100 bucks now days for my oil and filter, doing my own oil changes in my tundra. But I'm sure many of you also do.

[@ChavezDIY]

Oil is definitely cheap compared to engines. I also do my own oil changes.

[@thompson9400]

I wouldn't trust that kilmer guy to tell me how to check the oil in a lawn mower

[@ChavezDIY]

Haha, he's a legend but he is also becoming outdated with time.

[@biggface7]

I wonder if the dealerships suggests that so you can ruin your engine 😂

[@ChavezDIY]

The dealerships are not owned by the manufacturers and have nothing to do with the OEM manual. The dealerships are a separate entity. Dealerships follow the instructions from the engineers of the manufacturer.

[@smallnuts2]

I heard not to hot. So I take it dealerships let a car sit for several minutes to let the oil come down from the walls inside motor?

[@ChavezDIY]

The mechanics won't want to get burned by a hot engine so they cool down the engine with the large shop fans before changing the oil.

[@blackcrow1014]

Is checking in morning cold after all night engine off is accurate way?

[@ChavezDIY]

It depends on what your owner's manual recommends. If your owner's manual says to check the oil level cold, then yeah checking in the morning cold is an accurate way.

[@louf8335]

Totally wrong. Checking engine when cold is the best and accurate. If you check it warm than all them oil are not completely at the bottom of the engine giving you false reading. If you're a mechanic than you will know...

[@ChavezDIY]

How can I be wrong? I am giving information straight from the manual. Read your manual. The engineers who made the car will tell you what's best.

[@elypeachy3296]

Please clarify why taking a reading when oil is properly displaced after running - is actually wrong. Meaning how much of oil is suppose to be on bottom AFTER oil makes its way to everywhere it needs to go.

[@edubb2491]

When i check my 16 honda accord while warm..i get a slight higher reading

[@bruce9648]

​@@elypeachy3296all I know at beginning of this vid when checked it cold & shows dipstick 1st time ( pause vid & look where oil is) then you get a second shot of same stick & its at full line..& know its not the lighting or angle, you can clearly see where it is that's more concerning to me, let me know what you think 🇺🇲🦅🌍⚓ USMC

[@jeremyzacarias5317]

Aaaa what's up Bro

[@ChavezDIY]

Tell your dad to teach you how to check the engine oil level.

[@jeremyzacarias5317]

Got it

[@Mike-ht3qn]

So you added oil in the end??

[@ChavezDIY]

No. There's no need to add oil. My manual says to check the oil level warm. When I checked the oil level, it was in the middle of the lower and upper mark on the dipstick. As long as its in between the upper and lower mark on the dipstick its good.