I was told that checking the engine oil when the engine is cold is better than checking the engine oil after the engine is warmed up and then turned off for 5 minutes. In my opinion it makes sense that when you do run the car to operating temperature and then turn it off and let the oil come back into the pan in 5 minutes, that is not suffecient time for all the oil to come back into the oil pain because so much is still in the engine. When cold all of the engine oil is in the pan so you get a bang on reading. Well anyway yesterday I checked the oil by doing the other method by running the engine to operating temprature and then letting it come back to the pan in 5 minutes. Well when examining the dipstick the engine level was alot closer to the low! so I ended up putting a full quart of oil to bring the oil to the top. But now after reading and learning how false the wait five minutes and at enginge operating temp reading is I could have over filled with oil!!!! whats your guys is take on this?

 

I just check my oil at the gas station. By the time I finish filling up and paying I guess thats 5 minutes. My oil level doesnt really move that much in between oil changes. I guess thats good though.

 

If you want to compare the oil level it definitely makes more sense to check cold. Removes all doubt about oil needing to drain back into the pan.