How to check oil level ?

[shlim8]

What is the correct way to check the oil level ? First thing in the morning or after waiting 10-15 mins or more after switching the engine off ?

The reason I'm asking is because I've got a big variance in the reading at the dipstick if I check at the 2 difference times... (full mark when hot and way over when cold).

I just had a oil service done and I get smoke at startup everytime I leave the car standing for an hour or so.... I just had about 800cc removed to eliminate overfill first... (my aos is only about 6 months old and I don't have excessive pressure at the engine oil filler cap). The oil level is now about the 3/4 mark on the dipstick and 2 bar from the top at the electronic gauge at hot (10-15mins after shutdown engine). I presume that should be a good level to be at ? Don't know what the level is when cold yet.