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I've always wondered this as well - everyone seems to say that you check when its warm but the handbook doesn't say that - just to wait 10 mins after stopping to let it settle.

Surely when you are dipping something into a liquid to test its depth the most accurate way is to wait until its completely cooled and settled - to actually design a gauge that works when the oil is warm and have it be acurate would be a nightmare.

When you take into consideration the different types, thickness, and makes of oil that are used and that fact that different oils take different times to cool/settle etc then it would be stupid to design such a thing.

Does this also mean that if the engine holds five litres that when you do an oil change you have to put 4.5 litres in a jug and warm it up first to get 5 litres?????????

Just out of interest, my old coupe used selenia 20k semi-synth and the readings hot and cold were always identical - i only see a very slight difference now with fully-synth between the readings.

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I totally agree with all of that mate - surely the 10-minutes-stipulation is so people don't check it straight after they switch off, i.e give it time to settle ?

And I also agree that checking when cold is the most accurate - as I've probably said on here before, what's the oil going to do after 10 minutes - start climbing out of the sump again ?

But, having said all of that, it says 10 minutes in the book and I always try and do EXACTLY what I'm told. Then, if it goes wrong, you know you can't blamed for following instructions

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This procedure is mainly for the benefit of the Servicing garages

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Of course you can add your own cold reading marks to the dipstick.

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that might not be a bad idea think when i do another oil change and i know that there is the correct amount of oil in, i will make a mark on the dip stick. sab=ves having to start the car up every time i need to check the oil

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i have it from paul at motormech that to check cold is the only reliable way of knowing for sure how much (or little!) oil is in the car. that'll do for me...

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Hi,

this debate will never go away but I always find it interesting
There is even a difference of opinion between well respected mechanics on here as to whether the oil should be measured from cold or hot and the person I trust to do work on my car says to measure the oil from cold on level ground as thats how it goes in...........so I measure it when hot 10mins after switching the engine off!

The way I look at it is the people who designed the engine and tested it must know a fair bit about it dont you think?
Maybe as mentioned by Pisole it is a safety thing and in the past when I have checked the oil from cold its way above the hot reading but im sure this would have all been taken into account.
I offcourse could be wrong as is usually the case so i'll shut up now!

Cheers
John

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I have just written to Fiat to ask for an explanation.

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LOL - they'll quote the manual!

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I doubt who ever reads the letter will know or care anymore tbh and this is the same reason why you don't get the service you expect for our cars from alot of fiat dealers!
Although it would be interesting to see what they say, you never know somebody might take it upon themselves to give an informative explanation.