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If the vehicle has been parked for an extended period
without the engine being started, some oil will seep back
into the oil pan, reducing the amount of oil held in the dry
sump tank and there could be no engine oil at all showing
on the dipstick. This is normal since the dipstick is
designed to read engine oil level only after the engine has
run long enough to reach normal operating temperature.
Do not add engine oil based on cold engine dipstick
readings. The engine oil level on the dipstick will also be
inaccurate if checked while the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading,
warm up the engine to at least 175°F (80°C).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine.
Checking the oil while the engine is running
will result in an incorrect oil level reading.
3. Wait at least five minutes (but not more than
20 minutes) to allow oil to drain and settle in
the engine.
4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine oil
tank and clean it with a lint-free paper towel or a
cloth. Re-insert the dipstick into the external oil tank,
pushing it all the way in until it stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the
level on the cross-hatched area. Oil levels that fall
in the cross-hatched area are normal.
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