So, it's 19 Degree F outside. the car has been sitting in the garage for two days. I went to check the oil level, and it shows below the minimum line in the dash (blinking)

Now, Should i top up? Or should i start the car and let it idle for oil temperature to rise before i do?

Is it even safe to start the car when the oil level displayed is that low?

 

Mine does that as well i would take it for a spin then check the level is the oil light flashing?

 

I would at least add .4 quarts to it before driving it around.

 

You are getting a reading more than 1.2 qts low. Personally I would add half that amt and run the car, retesting on warm engine before trying to "top it off" accurately.

 

SO, i added about 3/4 quart and havent started the car yet, but now it shows only one bar low.
Now i am worried that if the low oil display was from the cold weather or not? Should i be worried about starting the car?

 

don't worry about starting the car if its just one bar low. The car has 9 quarts or so in it so 1 bar low is no big deal. Start it, get it to operating temp and re-check.

 

I am not worried about a bar low or so, i am worried that the oil was only "showing" low due to the oitside temps and that now when i start it, warm oil expands and i find out that i overfilled.

 

Unless you were already overfilled then the 3/4 of a quart that you added will not cause damage from you just starting up the car to get it to operating temp. I doubt the issue with you showing the oil as below the minimum line is a result of the cold weather unless you were already low and right on the "bubble" to begin with. In other words I don't think a properly filled oil level would drop drastically enough to show below from the minimum line. Could cold weather make a difference of 1 bar or so? I think yes, but not from full to below the minimum. Once you start it and get to operating temp to re-check the oil, if indeed you are overfilled you can remove the oil filter and drain it to take a bit of oil out of the system. Good luck with it

 

Drive it. Unless you are seeing a huge puddle of oil under the car you are fine. Oil gauge works in cold, think of Europeon winters. You let it get too low, need better system. Always add oil in increments to avoid overfill. If you get minor overfill after adding 1/2 qt, just drive it off. Not a problem.

 

Alright, just drove and all seems normal. I think it was just my **** retentiveness.

 

good because you are way overthinking the value of a 1/2 a quart or so...