Checking Oil-WTF?

[teraeric]

i just open the cap after it's run for a bit... see shiny=good... see bottom=not good... my wife kept complaining when i wiped the dipstick off on her pants, so i came up with the new method...

 

[Triple Trouble]

If you suspect a faulty oil non-return valve (which would allow oil to drain out of the oil tank when the engine is not running) should you check the dipstick immediately upon stopping the engine, or wait 10 seconds, or wait 30 seconds, etc. in order to get the most accurate reading? I ask because I assume that some period of time is necessary after the engine is stopped for the oil in the engine to return to the oil tank.

The oil pump has two sides. The feed side pumps oil through the engine and the return side collects the oil from the bottom of the engine and returns it to the oil tank. The return side pumps twice as much oil as the feed side to ensure that the sump remains empty which is why you check the oil after running for a bit.