Is it best to check engine oil level when vehicle is cold, or should I warm it up for 5 min then check in 3 min. What do you guys think?

/6 warm and running.
A /4 hot or cold, shut off a couple of minutes.
The only big one on the /4 is to have it on level ground.

If I check mine hot it's always 1 mark too high on the dipstick (that much over the top
mark) vs waiting half hour to cool down. On a 4.

As Mark said, always have the car on level ground.

I've always checked the oil before start-up (cold); never had an oil issue in 35 years doing it that way. Plus it's a lot cooler in there then!

.ON level ground ...Hot and running......this is the reality your engine is in., the oil is hot, and the oil is circulating,and this is when the oil level should be checked.

You had to know that someone would disagree with that statement, so here goes. Mind please that I am simply disagreeing, not trying to pick a fight (some folks here are so sensitive). While that is true for a six, its not true for a four. Hopefully, when the engine is running, most of the oil will be circulating, and not sitting in the bottom of the case. This could cause two different things. 1- the oil level would read very low, or the oil would be splashed on the dipstick and make it appear to be way over full. The factory manual says to fill with 3.5 litres of SAE 30 only. If that matches the mark on the dipstick, then oil should always checked with engine off.

From a 1970 /4 owners manual:

"The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick, and must never sink below the lower mark. An exact indication is only possible if the car is standing level. It is wrong to check the oil immediately after switching off the engine-the oil needs a few minutes to flow back into the crankcase. When the engine has to carry out particularly heavy work, such as on long turnpike trips in summer, the oil level should be kept just under the upper mark."

"Pull out dipstick and wipe with a clean rag. Push in dipstick to stop, pull out again and read off oil level. The distance between the upper and lower marks corresponds to approx. 2.1 US pints/1.8 Imp. pints."

Check it with the engine off like most everyone, including Porsche.

VSG914.....I appreciate your consideration. Disagreements can sometimes provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the reality of an issue, .assuming both parties are open minded.....So here is some more information to help you decide how you want to check your oil level.....IF you check a 911,s oil level while it,s running.....why is it wrong to check a miserable type IV in the same way.?.....It is possable and doeable to check it while running....I certainly want an absolutely full crankcase of oil, it,s what ALSO provides engine cooling. The engine is not "over" full of oil if the high mark on the dip stick is not exceeded...while it,s running.(and the engine is completely capable of handling a complete Quart of oil if you do overfill it.)...unlike most engines our type 4,s do not have a problem with the crankshaft frothing ..THRU.. the crankcase oil if overfilled, as our cranks are way above the oil....so is the camshaft....With the engine running the volume of oil compressed in the oil passages is approximately one half quart of oil.(slightly more).(more if you have a remote oil cooler). The volume of oil drops in the crankcase...So this is the reality with a running engine. I,ve been filling and checking oil this way for a long time...I do it this way on all my vehicles...it,s one way to know with certainty that you are getting all the lubricating and cooling possable. It will also help (altho not always) eliminate low oil pressure in hard cornoring for a street car. The reality of whats there and whats going on is the thing...from the internal oil baffle cast into the crankcase and many other things.... The reality of whats actually taking place is the thing.

well that is all fine and good, but your assuming the factory set the high/low marks for checking while engine is running. I would not make that assumption seeing as your supposd to check the level in the four cylinder car with teh motor off, so is that not how the factory would mark the dip stick?


here is the real funny thing, what about folks with remote oil coolers, got to fill up that cooler and hoses how do you measure the oil level then?

my way is to measure the volume of oil the cooler and hoses take, then on teh first fill, (cooler and hoses dry) you add that much more oil to the engine than normal specified fill , then make a note on teh dip stick level, (it will be higher than normal full mark) then run motor to fill up the cooler and hoses, then shut dwon and allow all that oil in cooler and hose that will drain, to drain back into the sump, then recheck the dip stick, this should be the new oil level for when you top it off with engien off and settled for a while. cut a new high mark with a file clean all file dust off the stick and yoru good to go with a new high mark that compensates for the oil cooler.
bewarned, the old low mark will now be too low assuming a significant amount of oil is needed above the original top level to keep it full with teh hoses and cooler filled. you will probably want a new low mark also, you should actually make a mark using teh above method by using a half quart less than used above for the full fill, then make the new low mark on teh stick, then add the remaining half quart and make the new high mark. you will now have a half quart range high to low with your cooler/hoses included!

"IF you check a 911,s oil level while it,s running.....why is it wrong to check a miserable type IV in the same way.?....."

Cause the 911 and 914-6 are dry sump engines. The dipstick is in the oil tank, not the crankcase.

Dry sump vs. wet sump.

Dave is also right that the high low marks are arbitrary based on certain conditions. If you change those base conditions, you make those arbitrary marks irrelevant.

well duh.... The oil level is checked while the engine is running.

I've got an external oil cooler and that changes my oil level. However I have a high spot in my oil lines as they go up through the engine compartment and not past the valve cover so, I do not drain all of the oil from the cooler back into the sump.
I run the car for a few minutes and then do a speedy check on the dip stick. I have yet to mark a new "full" line on the dip stick.

But for a stock car check it with the engine off and give it a few minutes to let the oil drain back into the sump.

Well duh! Not on a four!

.......Well alrighty then, I,m easy, do it your way.

Just as long as you do check it.

How about every time you buy gas.

The 4 cylinder factory specs says "3.5 litres (approx 3.7 us quarts) of oil". If you change oil and filter. add 3.5litres, run to fill oil filter, and check the dipstick with the engine off, it will be exactly on the top (ie;full)mark.

MISERABLE 4...geez!

I think that is wrong! I think you only need to check it at every other time you get gas, and then only on odd numbered days!

Thanks guys for the advice! If the engine is overfilled will it cause any engine damage? And what is the Ideal engine temp?

Another simple question followed by everyone's $.02 worth of advice and confusion.

> Best time to check engine oil level on my 914?

7:30 a.m. as the moons gravitational pull will be negated by the gamma rays from Jupiter.

Now that you get to pick when to check the oil (cold ) yes overfill will blow out seals in the motor. I've read / been told that 1/2 qt is ok over.

It's been a long time but I think I remember when I checked my bug oil if I pulled the dipstick with it running sometimes oil drops would blow out but it idled at about 1500. I know on my sons turbo suby some oil specks will blow out if you pull the dipstick out with it running.

It seems that if you fill it up after a oil change, and start it and let it warm up and turn it off and immediately check it and it's at the full mark that is where you want it on a wet sump motor, if it's low add a little and keep track how much you put in and use that amount on each fillup every time.

I've never read on a wet sump motor to check the oil with the motor running.

Ah crap.....when I pull the dipstick out of my L-Jet'd 914 it dies every time. So now I can't check my oil!



I'm so screwed!