ok, I just checked my oil and Im kinda confused. 3 of the 5 little blocks on the dipstick clearly had oil on them, and the top 2 were clean, but there was some oil up above the high mark. This was after wiping off the dipstick. Did the oil above the "H" mark just come off of the side of the tube where the dipstick is held, or is the oil actually that high?
What kind of oil should I top it off with if it is low? 10w-30 dino oil?

 

Make sure that the engine is off and it has been sitting for a few minutes (the engine should still be warm). If you are following this procedure, then the excess oil droplets that were above the top mark was just residue - or you did not wipe the dipstick very well.

If depends on your mileage on whether or not you want to add conventional or synthetic oil. I'm assuming your mileage is relatively low (please clarify), you should just use a conventional oil in 10W-30 weight. Good luck.

 

I only have about 2500 miles on my s2k. I checked the oil when the engine was cold, so that might have been my problem.

 

You SHOULD check it when cold. I check it every time before starting it up, and add oil as necessary to keep it topped off. This engine holds lots of oil throughout, so the dipstick will only be accurate when it's been sitting at least 30 minutes - best when completely cold.

Any oil you found above the Full mark was probably just some splashing due to pulling it out.

JonasM

 

QUOTE: You SHOULD check it when cold. I check it every time before starting it up, and add oil as necessary to keep it topped off. This engine holds lots of oil throughout, so the dipstick will only be accurate when it's been sitting at least 30 minutes - best when completely cold.

I am sorry but this is incorrect. You should always check the engine oil (and add accordingly) when the engine is at normal operating temperature. Please read in the owner's manual on pages 162-166 on how to properly change your engine oil.

Granted, this is the procedure for changing the engine oil, but the idea is still the same. You want the engine oil (and the engine) to be warm when you check the dipstick level; this allows all the engine oil to be in the oil pan (by being able to be pulled down by gravity due to heat) when you check.

 

This doesn't make sense - if the oil needs to be warm to get down into the oil pan, then I'm OK - it was warm when I parked it the night before. Just because it gets cold doesn't mean it moves back up into the engine!

But if the oil is warm, and therefore circulated throughout the engine, a lot of it remains in the engine for quite a while. I had found that just starting the engine & rolling out onto the driveway would cause my dipstick reading to be about 2-3 X's lower than when completely cold. Even after 10-20 minutes, it still wouldn't read correctly.

Well, that's my experience. When brand new, the oil wouldn't read correctly (or consistently between readings) unless the engine was cold. I guess, as usual, your mileage may vary.

JonasM

 

So, according to what you say, anti-gravity sets in when the engine is cold and you don't get a true reading. What truer reading can you get than when the engine is cold?
I've been through this discussion on this board so many times, it ain't funny. In fact there are some here that say to change the oil when it is cold (after all of the oil has settled into the pan).
I say change the oil when it is hot and flows better, leaving time to allow for good drainage. Check the oil when it is cold or sitting for at least 1/2 an hour.