Different dipstick reading after standing vs wiped clean
Posted: 30 Aug 2013, 10:48
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?
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?