I never check the oil cold, I've always let the car cool down for around 1/2 to1hr then checked.

 

I never did before this car, but manual says to do it cold?

 

It could just be bad design, my mk6 is very hit and miss on a good reading.

 

im fairly sure oil should be checked cold otherwise oil will still be all around the engine rather than sitting in a nice big puddle to dip into.

oh, and no idea if thats normal for a mk7 but i find the mk6 to be a lucky dip :lmao:

 

You shouldn't check it hot straight after turning the ignition off because as mentioned you are waiting for the oil level to return to the sump and settle, but after you've wiped the dipstick clean and re-dipped you should get a positive reading even if a little residual has covered the rest of the rod.

 

Omg, how many mechanics do you see wait half an hour before checking the oil level after a service?? None. You just wait a minute or two then dip it, that being said the st180 is very hard to get a reliable reading I too find it smeared all the way up the dipstick, even after long periods of time not running, and the end is the wrong colour, when the oils clean you can't see the level at all.

 

check front and back. takes a bit to read. loads of cars are quite difficult - espeically after an oil change.