Checking engine oil: Which is the correct reading?

[Scrapyard-John]

@TheWonderful90s

As someone said, what you want is to know the oil level when it is running.

If it becomes over filled when the engine is stopped it doesn’t matter. With automatic transmissions there is apparently so much oil in the system that it has to be checked when running.

I believe you’re still overthinking it with the oil. The “oil level when running” has a corresponding oil level in the pan. 5 quarts is 5 quarts, for example.