Check your oil!!!

howsteele · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 08:16 PM

So I just finished washing the car and wiping down the inside of the hood, and a thought I would check the oil. So I pull it out and wipe it off, stick it back in and pull it out, it reads at the bottom mark. So I think maybe have did not put it all the way down so I repeat the steps, still on the bottom mark. Oh and by the way the car only has 1950 miles on it. So I go to the Auto parts store and get the Mobil 1 Syn. Oil ($14) for 2 quarts. I get home put 1 quart in and look at the level, now it reads all the way up past the top level. WTF. does anybody have a oil consumption problem? And why dont the marks on the oil stick represent a quart of oil?

PygmySurfer · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 08:29 PM

This has been mentioned before.

ddawson · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:36 PM

The same identical thing happen to me. It read EMPTY. I put a quart in. Took it to the dealer the same day and it read full. The dealer said the car must be level and it must sit at least 30 minutes after driving, before checking the oil level. He stressed the 30 minutes.

Ronster · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:43 PM

empty?

MoFex · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:46 PM

Took your advise and checked the oil. I change it at 4,000 miles and have 7,600 now so since the change I put 3,600 miles. It seems that the engine did not use any oil.........Oh, car is parked in the garage and the engine has been off for more than 2 hours.......

MoFex · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronster

empty?

Impossible. The dipstick maybe dry but it does not mean the engine oil sump is empty. I would not advise to drive car like that though..

72_Fleetwood · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:49 PM

I just checked my DI engine yesterday at 1000 miles and it's still on the top line.

ddawson · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronster

empty?

Yes, empty. I went to Auto Zone and had them check it. It read EMPTY. I put a quart in, drove to the dealer. Let it sit for 30 minutes,on level ground. Checked it again and it read FULL. FACT.

Ronster · #9 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 09:55 PM

sorry, just couldn't help that. the lower hatched area indicates a quart low so a dry dipstick could be about 2 qts low leaving 4.
should check at delivery and every couple weeks to detect break-in usage. may need to top off in the first few thousand miles.
I put in about a half quart at 4k (changed the filter then). every engine uses oil, only question is how much.
make sure motor is warm and car is level, and let it sit for "several minutes" (20-30 is way sufficient).
rg

DavidL · #10 (**permalink**) 03-10-08, 11:53 PM

5000 miles so far; had the oil changed at 3,000, approximately; no problems with low oil levels either on the dipstick (I check it weekly) or in the DIC.

928S · #11 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howsteele

So I just finished washing the car and wiping down the inside of the hood, and a thought I would check the oil. So I pull it out and wipe it off, stick it back in and pull it out, it reads at the bottom mark. So I think maybe have did not put it all the way down so I repeat the steps, still on the bottom mark. Oh and by the way the car only has 1950 miles on it. So I go to the Auto parts store and get the Mobil 1 Syn. Oil ($14) for 2 quarts. I get home put 1 quart in and look at the level, now it reads all the way up past the top level. WTF. . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddawson

The same identical thing happen to me. It read EMPTY. I put a quart in. Took it to the dealer the same day and it read full. The dealer said the car must be level and it must sit at least 30 minutes after driving, before checking the oil level. He stressed the 30 minutes.

Damn, this is uncanny! I had the exact same thing happen today, 2300 miles on odometer. Parked on level driveway, checked the dipstick three times to make sure it was pushed in all the way, and each time oil was barely visible on the bottom of the "ADD" cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick. I then followed owner manual instructions. Added "one quart" of Mobil 1. Drove the car about 10 minutes, turned the engine off and again let it sit for "several minutes," and checked the dipstick. This time the oil level was above the "OVERFILL" upper cross-hatched area, and according to the owner manual, "the engine could be damaged." WTF, indeed!!!

I remember reading a few months ago a similar incident reported by another forum member, and at the time thinking to myself "whatta dimwit." Now I am the dimwit for following the owner manual instructions.

Intermittent electrical problems, excessive road/tire noise, HVAC fan noise, loose driver's seat, and now this. Guess it's time to visit my dealer.

**Jesda** · #12 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 05:34 AM

It shows the level of the final quart, not the total level of oil.

NJRonbo · #13 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 05:43 AM

Is there an indicator on the dashboard display that warns of low oil?

DONZI · #14 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 08:04 AM

It shows on your DIC "ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL".

howsteele · #15 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 12:01 PM

So do the marks on the dipstick represent a quart? And if so why when you put a quart in it moves more than 1 mark. This is what happened to me. And yes the car was level and it had been parked for hours. And was not driven from the time it was checked the first time and was low, to the time after I put a quart in.