Different dipstick reading after standing vs wiped clean

[discipleofsketch]

OK, this confuses the hell out of me - the reading on my dipstick (1.6 CS diesel sump) is always higher after it has been standing than when I wipe clean and re-check it. If I keep wiping and rechecking the lower level is consistent. This is on a cold engine.

Checked it this morning - initially the level is too high, clean and check again repeatedly, and the level is lower where I expect it. Went past an hour later and out of curiosity checked it and it's high again? (clean, check again and get consistent lower reading) I didn't drive it anywhere inbetween, and I last topped it up yesterday.

Can anyone explain this apparent defiance of gravity? Some sort of surface tension causing the oil to climb the dipstick when it's sat for a while?

[kevtherev]

the second method is how to check your oil level.
not the first

[discipleofsketch]

the second method is how to check your oil level.
not the first

Cheers Kev, yep that's how I've always done it, but was just confused about why the "level" would appear to rise on a standing engine!