Under what circumstances should the car oil dipstick be checked for accurate readings?
2 Answers
When checking the oil dipstick, the engine should remain stationary for about 2 minutes before proceeding. This allows the oil in the engine oil passages to flow back into the oil pan, ensuring the most accurate measurement of the engine oil level. Oil burning and oil consumption are two different concepts, as follows: 1. Oil consumption: This refers to the inevitable situation where some of the oil that lubricates the engine pistons during their operation in the cylinders remains on the walls of the combustion chamber and gets burned. As driving time increases, the oil level will decrease accordingly, which is a normal phenomenon of oil consumption. 2. Oil burning: This refers to the situation where oil enters the engine's combustion chamber and participates in combustion along with the air-fuel mixture. Signs of oil burning can be identified by checking whether the exhaust pipe emits blue smoke, observing if the car lacks power during acceleration, or by monitoring the oil dipstick. As long as the oil level remains between the highest and lowest points during the interval between two maintenance services, it is considered normal.
Just helped my neighbor check the dipstick this morning, and timing is crucial for this task. The most reliable reading comes when the car is parked on level ground overnight and in a cold state. If you pull the dipstick immediately after shutting off a hot engine, the oil hasn't fully drained back, which can lead to a false low-oil reading. Checking on a slope is even less accurate as oil tends to flow downhill. I've seen novice owners checking right after shutting off at gas stations—the dipstick appears adequately oiled, but the next morning when cold, it shows a significant shortfall. Remember to wipe the dipstick clean, insert it fully, wait three seconds, then pull it out vertically to check the oil mark—no lazy angled insertions. Make it a habit to check weekly when the engine is cold, especially for older turbocharged vehicles.
