Supermarket oil level check…

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  1. My model of MX-5 is: __NC1
  2. I’m based near: __
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __

Despite buying the ‘better oil dip stick’ from MX5Parts I’m still getting ambiguous results if you check oil level in the way for most cars
The problem seems to be oil is forced up into the tube the stick sits in: take the stick out after a run and the oil is way up the forteen inches of said item.
Only checked it three times now but if you clean the dipstick and just leave it in the engine bay somewhere out of harms way, when you put it back in its proper place you do actually get an unambiguous reading without the odd smears that can make you query the level. I say supermarket as my car lives on a slope at home and 15 minutes wandering about in the food shed seems to allow the oil in the tube to drain and not mess up reading the stick.
Not knowing your oil level is pretty basic bad juju so I’m happy to have finally got ok about that.

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It’s no different to my Skoda’s dipstick, check it hot/warm after leaving it to settle for around 10 mins and you’ll probably end up topping it up. The read will show below the max mark on the stick, left overnight and checked cold next day it reads smack on the max mark. I know it’s true as I changed the oil myself recently, it takes 4 litres exactly and a spot on read on the stick on a cold engine.