# Really necessary to check oil level on car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919 "2010-10-21T19:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/61 "2010-10-26T18:22:42Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > EDIT: As an aside - I don’t check the oil frequently because the procedure (according to the manual) is to warm the engine to operating temperature, shut it off, wait 5 minutes, and then check the dipstick. I rarely find myself with 5 minutes to spare just sitting around waiting, and I’m such an OCD nut that I don’t trust the reading anyway if it is not within 30 seconds of 5 minutes. That procedure is way too anal retentive. The difference between how much oil drains back into the pan after 1 minute as compared to how much drains back after 5 minutes is insignificant unless there’s a bunch of sludge blocking the drainback holes, in which case there’s a bigger issue at hand than the oil level. Wait 30 seconds to 1 minute and check it. If it’s in the okay zone, it’s good and you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/62 "2010-10-26T19:17:33Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > That procedure is way too anal retentive. It’s a German car, after all. ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/63 "2010-10-26T19:53:15Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > I don’t know that BMW makes the distinction between low oil pressure and low (operating) oil level, but I don’t have the manual handy. Don’t know which one you had, but I have a '05 M3 and it does have a separate light for oil pressure and oil level. The oil level light will light up yellow for “it’s getting a tad low” and red for “check the level NOW, dummy!” The oil pressure light is mostly to inform you that you just fried an engine. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/64 "2010-10-26T20:03:53Z")
I have an '03 325Ci. I thought that the yellow light immediately after the engine is turned _off_ was the “it’s getting a tad low” light, and the yellow light when the engine is running was the “you idiot, stop immediately” light. Have never seen the red one. Come to think of it - in my car, that light does flash yellow _and_ red when the gauge cluster first turns on. So you’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/65 "2010-10-26T21:05:59Z")
What a pain. I just get a text message (no, not an SMS) on the computer. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919/66 "2010-10-26T21:44:03Z")
Mine has an ‘electronic dipstick’ that graphically shows the oil level on startup. If it gets significantly low (about a quart) it flashes yellow until you fix it. Letting it drop any lower lights a huge red **STOP** light. It very rarely uses any oil between changes (12,500 miles recommended) but is very sensitive, compared to the physical dipstick. I still check it around once a month or before any long journeys. Only had to add oil on two occasions in four years, about 1/2 a cup each time. The wrong type of oil can ruin the effectiveness of the level sensor though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-necessary-to-check-oil-level-on-car/557919.md?page=3)