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How long does it take engine oil to settle?

I’ve heard that you’re supposed to wait for your engine’s oil to settle before checking your oil levels. Is that true? If so, how long does it take for the oil to settle?

avatar
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! Yes, you should definitely wait for your oil to settle before checking the levels. Otherwise, you’ll get an inaccurate measurement. It takes about 10-15 minutes after you’ve shut off the car for the engine oil to settle.
Settling is just what it sounds like–all the oil that has been moving through your engine settles back into the oil pan. If you check the oil levels before the oil has time to settle, you’ll get a measurement that shows lower oil levels than you actually have.
While you’re tinkering with your engine and staying up to date on its maintenance needs, take a minute or two to review your
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