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Saw a guy at the gas station in Boise check his oil with the engine running, and it made me think about a habit I picked up
I was filling up at a station off Vista Ave in Boise last week and the guy at the pump next to me popped his hood, pulled the dipstick, and checked his oil while the engine was still idling. I didn't say anything, but it got me thinking about how I used to do the same thing years ago until an old mechanic named Ray set me straight. He told me the reading will look low and foamy if the motor is running, since oil is still up in the top end and the crank is whipping air into the pan. Now I always shut the car off, wait about 5 minutes, pull the stick, wipe it, then dip it again for a true level. The other part Ray drilled into me was checking it on level ground, since my driveway has a slope and I was getting readings about a quarter quart off. It's a tiny habit but it saved me from topping off when I didn't need to. Anyone else get taught the engine-off rule early, or did you learn it the hard way like I almost did?
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