Today, I ran out and got some Mobil 1 in a hurry, as the electronic dipstick suddenly started flashing on the bottom of the range. Odd. A couple of days ago it was only one bar down.

Drove to Halfords (Esso garage didn't have any). Tested the level again - was up a block!

Got back home and let the engine cool - it was up another block! (ie just one block down again).

So... is the electronic dipstick that sensitive to parking angle and temperature? (At a low reading, nose was up slightly. At high reading, tail was up slightly - and I mean only slightly. Carpark rainwater runoff slightly.)

I'm topping up a little now, but am a tad frustrated. What's everyone else's experience with the level meter?