You check trans fluid in park, at idle when hot.

Gun

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_103_check-oil.html
"Check the oil when the engine is warm. Oil expands when it's hot and contracts when it's cold; different temperatures will give you different readings."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112200783.html
"Normally oil is checked cold or hot. In most cases there will be an allowable range on the dipstick. So cold engine oil levels will be lower than hot engine oil levels. Check oil hot the engine must be shut off and allowed to rest for 10 to 15 minutes"

I can check 100 websites about when to check it and will get 50 responses saying cold and 50
responses saying warm/hot.

[edit: rude response removed -- you take it from whence it comes]

 

When in doubt check your manitance manual. you will get the most accurate reading cold before the oil is spread out thur the engine. I am with souring on this one but I won't be as blunt.

 

Why do I need to take a course when I simply asked for advice before I bring it to the body shop and pay them to do what I need done?

Sure, it would be nice if I could do all of this myself, but for reasons I won't go into in public, I prefer to bring it to someone and let them do all the work.

I will check the manual tomorrow before I start it, thank you for that suggestion.

 

I check it when i feel like it, cold, hot, Blown up, i dont give a crap. As long as it's no where near add, i know im fine.

 

It is common knowledge to check your oil level when your engine is cold. I am outa here with this subject as you seem to not accept common sense.

 

Someone needs a hug.......that's the way to moderate.

 

umm did you use a different weight oil with this change i use 20W-50 now cause is so damn hot here that i never have oil pressure but i am gunna switch to a better diesel i was reading on how i should be using oil for dieslel engines cause it has more of what my car needs

 

Regardles of whether hot or cold, if it is low enough to drop pressure it will be low either way. My point was that if it is low for some reason, you don't want to be driving it without the propper amont of oil.
Good luck.

 

I would take a look at the dipstick before you take off...cheap insurance.

The simplest way I've found to troubleshoot factory gauges is to have an inexpensive mechanical gauge handy to swap in and read. Any mechanic should be able to do this for you pretty quickly. It's a good piece of insurance for something that's very important.

To me, it doesn't matter who takes care of the car, as long as it's properly maintained. From what I've read, you take good care of your car and take the time to notice something that isn't normal. Kudos.