Hi,

many years ago, my Dad told me to check my oil level when the engine is cold. No problems doing that with over 45 years of motoring. 
On every other car I’ve owned, if I pull the dipstick from when the car is left overnight, the level is much the same after initially pulling it out and having a quick look and then when I wipe it and put it back in and out again for a proper check. 
However, on my 1.4 16v BBZ, if I pull the dipstick out after it has been left overnight, the level has crept maybe 2.0cm above the max mark viewing it as it is initially pulled out. However after wiping off the oil then dipping again, the level is where I would expect it to be. 

In all cases, the engine has not been started between initially pulling out the dipstick and then a wipe and re-dip. 
 

I have never had the sump off to see where the dipstick sits so what is happening here for the level to apparently rise after cooling down overnight?

Skoda/VW say you should check it warm, so I wouldn't worry about it.

26 minutes ago, Pete_Ex-Wino said:

Skoda/VW say you should check it warm, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks Pete,

 

I’ll have to change the habit of a lifetime!

Not really any need to change your habit. 

 Just check once Cold then check and a At Operating Temp check..

So as you are now you know the level is correct for the oil on the dipstick.

 

Still check cold before starting an engine so that the oil is all in the sump, as much as goes to the sump.

But still check at Operating Temperature / Normal Operating temperature as VW, AUDI & SEAT says.

Then you know the difference. 

Before a trip you know you have enough oil in a car instead of setting off not knowing or needing to fill up. 

 

It is Skoda that says 'warm'. 

 Some manuals from VV Group say 'Hot' or Operating Temperature for the same engines as in a Skoda. 

Czech is a different language from German, English, US English, Chinese etc.  Lots gets lost in translation.

 

1.2 44 kW engines are checked 'Cold' according to a Skoda & VW Manual.. 

 

 

 

Edited 11 June, 20223 yr by roottoot

Only fill it halfway up the dipstick, that way it doesn't make any bloody difference if it's hot or cold, overfilling is much worse than underfilling so control the urge to OCD and go halfway.

Or in cars being used hard or in hotter conditions just have the oil near the maximum quantity as in the owners manuals.

No point running 1/4 -1/3 low in oil as happens pretty commonly with lots of engines.

'With the engines with just 2.8 litres of oil being 0.5 low is a bit much'

 

Engines newer than in Mk1 Fabia might have 3.6 or 3.9 litre capacity and come from a service low and then be as much as 1.3 - 1.5 litres before a Low Oil Warning light or message shows.

Edited 11 June, 20223 yr by roottoot

Lots of good information thank you. I’m very mindful about overfilling as I don’t want trouble with the crank oil seals. 
Still unsure the reasoning why the level goes up overnight though, just out of academic interest really. 
I recently changed the oil pick up pipe on my Mk 4 GTi 1.8T and you could see exactly the location of the dipstick in the sump. 
I’m amazed that some people never appear to check the oil level. 
just a couple of months ago, my new neighbour came to see me as her Peugeot engine was making a nasty noise and there was an oil light on the dash.
On checking the oil level, nothing was showing on the dipstick. 
The car was taken away for about 6 weeks but I have not found out the total bill yet. 
The alternative is that some uneducated folks think they need to fill it up like filling the petrol tank!

It's not the seals you need to worry about, it's the cat, oil pressure isn't affected by level unless it gets too low.

3 hours ago, prt57 said:

Thanks Pete,

 

I’ll have to change the habit of a lifetime!

Yes I quickly noticed that "feature" with my wife's 2002 Polo with the similar BBY engine, first and only car that I've looked after that that happened on, though, I'd expect that the similar BXW engine in my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza would also behave like that.

Just saying that so that you don't feel that you are the only one!

47 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Yes I quickly noticed that "feature" with my wife's 2002 Polo with the similar BBY engine, first and only car that I've looked after that that happened on, though, I'd expect that the similar BXW engine in my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza would also behave like that.

Just saying that so that you don't feel that you are the only one!

Phew, I’m not alone!

I have to wipe the dipstick and 're-dip' with my 1.4 16V BBZ to get a correct reading.

 

What would be useful would for the manufacturer to provide a note of how much oil is needed, say, per 5 mm of dipstick.

I’d be interested to know why this happens. 
Has anyone taken the engine to pieces and can explain why the oil level appears to go higher after the car has been left standing?

28 minutes ago, prt57 said:

I’d be interested to know why this happens. 
Has anyone taken the engine to pieces and can explain why the oil level appears to go higher after the car has been left standing?

 

The cylinder head is large compared to the block and takes time to drain completely, also the hydraulic lifters get squeezed down and emptied, which is why the engine is often tappety when first started.

As I stated earlier it doesn't matter, just don't overfill it, the entire reason there is an upper and lower line on the dipstick is because it doesn't matter as long as the oil level is somewhere in between!

It's called a tolerance and OCD types don't understand tolerance, they crave absolutes.

39 minutes ago, prt57 said:

I’d be interested to know why this happens. 
Has anyone taken the engine to pieces and can explain why the oil level appears to go higher after the car has been left standing?

 

According to your own words the level does not go up overnight but you do initially get a false higher reading:

 

"However, on my 1.4 16v BBZ, if I pull the dipstick out after it has been left overnight, the level has crept maybe 2.0cm above the max mark viewing it as it is initially pulled out. However after wiping off the oil then dipping again, the level is where I would expect it to be."

 

Do you really mean 2cm or 2mm?

 

As Sepulcrhrave has stated it is normal for the level to go up slightly as the oil drains down, perhaps this dripping oil is coating the dipstick and stocking to the hatched area (no idea how though) and giving you the false reading.

 

Maybe someone told me early on or maybe I learned straight away to never take notice of the level when withdrawing a dipstick, I have always wiped it, dipped it and then checked the level, it's the raison d'être of having a rag to hand when checking the oil level, otherwise why bother with the rag if you are going to take the initial false reading?

 

If a vehicle is unknown to me I will look at the dipstick to see if it has any oil at all and the colour before wiping and dipping to find the actual level.

 

5 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

According to your own words the level does not go up overnight but you do initially get a false higher reading:

 

"However, on my 1.4 16v BBZ, if I pull the dipstick out after it has been left overnight, the level has crept maybe 2.0cm above the max mark viewing it as it is initially pulled out. However after wiping off the oil then dipping again, the level is where I would expect it to be."

 

Do you really mean 2cm or 2mm?

 

As Sepulcrhrave has stated it is normal for the level to go up slightly as the oil drains down, perhaps this dripping oil is coating the dipstick and stocking to the hatched area (no idea how though) and giving you the false reading.

 

Maybe someone told me early on or maybe I learned straight away to never take notice of the level when withdrawing a dipstick, I have always wiped it, dipped it and then checked the level, it's the raison d'être of having a rag to hand when checking the oil level, otherwise why bother with the rag if you are going to take the initial false reading?

 

If a vehicle is unknown to me I will look at the dipstick to see if it has any oil at all and the colour before wiping and dipping to find the actual level.

 

The level can be 2cm above max when first withdrawn prior to wiping after the car stands overnight. 
However, if the dipstick is wiped and replaced for let’s say 10 seconds, the level is at the normal maximum.
This is all before starting the engine. 
 

Therefore the level has not gone up (measurably), you are getting a false reading by not wiping the dipstick before checking the level.

The overnight reading is not false, I can see where the oil is lying. Wiping the stick after turning off the engine then checking the next morning gives the same result. 
Other folks in this thread have noticed the same feature. 

33 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Therefore the level has not gone up (measurably), you are getting a false reading by not wiping the dipstick before checking the 

Edited 11 June, 20223 yr by prt57

So you believe that magically, within 10 seconds after putting the dipstick back in the level drops by 20mm?

9 minutes ago, prt57 said:

The overnight reading is not false, I can see where the oil is lying. Wiping the stick after turning off the engine then checking the next morning gives the same result. 

 

"However after wiping off the oil then dipping again, the level is where I would expect it to be."

 

The level has to be either one or the other and it will be the latter.

I've just checked my oil, pic of dipstick as first pulled out. X marks the level of oil cover.

 

The actual level was on the lower limit mark.

 

It gives such an obvious false reading after standing a while that you wipe the stick and dip it again. It doesn't show the level, it is picking up the oil from somewhere

 

 

 

 

 

The top end of the dipstick has a seal against the top of the tube, I think.

The air above the oil in the tube will be hot during engine operation. After shutdown it will cool and contract, pulling the oil level within the tube up as it does so. 

 

Experiment to try: tomorrow morning lift the dipstick just a few cm to break the seal to equalise any air pressure difference,  don't bother looking at level. Put the dipstick fully down again.

Come back an hour later and see if 'false level' is or is not now showing.

 

Just a hypothesis,  not tried that experiment myself. 

Edited 11 June, 20223 yr by Pete_Ex-Wino
Sp

Dipstick tubes generally stop at the block and do not protrude into the crankcase at all.

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

If a vehicle is unknown to me I will look at the dipstick to see if it has any oil at all and the colour before wiping and dipping to find the actual level.

 

 

You'll be hard pressed to do that on my current car (VW Touareg) no dipstick fitted just the empty tube, only way to check the level is via the info screen and only after the oil is at working temperature and if it's empty it's a bit late to find out, that's why I bought a dipstick from a Q7 at least I can now check the level before the engine makes a horrible noise 

35 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Dipstick tubes generally stop at the block and do not protrude into the crankcase at all.

Well I distinctly recall headbutting the end of the one in my BKY engine while under the car with sump off, and thinking, "better not stick that in an eye..."

 

Just found a pic:

 

Edited 11 June, 20223 yr by Pete_Ex-Wino

Wow, it's like a big black drinking straw, I've never seen that on any other engine.