Oil Level Question

[NoahsArk117]

This might sound like a dumb question but I figured I would ask. If I check my cars oil while parked on a slight incline (driveway) will the reading on the dipstick be higher or lower than the actual oil level? I know to get an accurate reading you need to be on a flat level surface but I was just wondering.

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[BMAGOO]

It depends on how you park it. I don’t know for sure but if your front end is higher than than rear then I would say it would read a bit lower on the dipstick. If the rear end is higher than the front then it would read higher on the dipstick. If I’m wrong then it would be the exact opposite. Haha !

 

[gadgtfreek]

Do you have a flat spot like at work you could check to compare? FWIW, I check mine every other weekend and always keep it between the low and high circles, middle of crosshatch (flat driveway).

 

[NoahsArk117]

Do you have a flat spot like at work you could check to compare? FWIW, I check mine every other weekend and always keep it between the low and high circles, middle of crosshatch (flat driveway).

Yeah my garage is flat. That's where I typically check it. I have a pretty sloped driveway. I was pretty curious so I checked my oil three different ways, parked forwards in the driveway (sloped up) parked backwards in the driveway (sloped down) and in my garage (flat). I got the same reading each time so I was wondering how critical the whole flat surface thing really was.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I wonder if since it is on one side, a side to side lean is all that matters?

 

[Fly2High]

Park it forwards - take a reading
Turn it backwards on the same spot - take a reading.

The spot between the two is the level when parked flat

 

[ORRadtech]

He already did, read post #4.

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