Check oil hot or cold?

[M-88]

Less oil volume means that the oil gets up to temperature quicker and incurs less pumping loses.

At least that is my guess.

[cyclopathic]

Can you explain how?

Depends on engine, but generally unless you have dry sump all that oil splashed around by crank isn't gonna make it more efficient.

Edit: unless you are anal about checking oil or absolutely sure you are not loosing any I wouldn't run engine on minimum. Engine costs way more than a few pennies you'd save on gas.

[tomrad]

Thanks to all for the replies.
I looked around my garage last night and found the extra bottle of 0W20 from the previous oil change. And guess what....it had 750ml in it. LOL! I did the same thing before. For some reason that 2.9 quarts made me think liters. I remember now thinking 200 ml more would be about right.
So now I know...3 liters, no more.

[namco]

Checking your oil hot or cold doesn't matter. Oil viscosity may change from cold to hot, but the amount in the engine wont.

As a mechanic of many years, when you do an oil change, you fill the engine up to the top mark, start it, let it run up to 10 seconds (granted, 10 seconds for older cars, newer cars circulate oil faster and get everything going, but 10 seconds is a good rule to follow), then shut the car off, and check the level. You will notice the oil is now lower than it was. This is because oil gets pushed through the system as well as filling the filter. Then top off. Once this is done you wont have an issue and should be good until the next oil change (unless you drive like me, in which case you are always in high rpm and red lining like a teenager, and you'll have oil burn off and need to top off or do an early oil change). ALSO, always check your oil on a flat even surface, any kind of hill will throw your reading off!

[Cleartec]

I wouldn't be scared of that. Remember they have tolerances so that you can't destroy your engine by a little to much oil