I like to keep the oil at the maximum level and am using the following method to read the oil level 5 minutes after shutting off the engine that was at full operating temperature as MINI recommends. I modified my dipstick as suggested by BlackIce, but this might work with the unmodified dipstick or the Craven dipstick. MINI shows the center of the upper bulge of the measurement area as the maximum level. The distance from the portion of the handle that contacts the dipstick tube to the bottom end of the handle is almost exactly 1". I measured 1" from the center of the upper bulge and marked where that level was on the measuring portion of the dipstick. I pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, push it in until contact with the lower portion of the handle, wait 10 seconds, pull it out and read the level. The level shown is 1" lower on the dipstick than the actual level and will be at the spot I marked on the dipstick if the maximum amount of oil is in the engine. If the reading is lower than the mark, oil needs to be added. If the reading is above the mark, oil needs to be removed. Because this moves the reading area 1" away from the center of the upper bulge, the oil wiped off the the dipstick tube does not get near the reading area. Each reading I have made using this method has been very consistant. I can see a dry surface all around the dipstick above the indicated level with the oil at the maximum level. The following picture was taken by BlackIce when he used this method to check the amount of overfill by his dealer. It shows how easy it is too read with his modification.




Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B

 

BlackIce showed a picture of reading the oil level with the oil overfilled. This picture shows how easy it is to read his modified dipstick even with the oil overfilled. The following link shows this picture.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...81-post38.html

Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B