TheBasedDoge

So I feel like an idiot. I checked the oil on my car today and it was below the L mark. I didn't take a pic but its about halfway between the min mark and the bottom of the dipstick. The car still drives fine, seems to have its full power and everything works. No oil light has ever came on. How bad is this / could I have caused any damage? How many quarts low is the engine at that mark?
Planning on doing an oil change on it tomorrow now (first oil change since I've gotten it), going to take a sample and send to Blackstone as well.

Car is an ap1 with 77k. I know its normal for AP1 to burn oil... I'll have to check it more often.

twohoos

It's fine, top it up and forget it ever happened.

TheBasedDoge

So as long as there is oil on the dipstick its fine? I've been freaking out since I saw that

cosmomiller

You should check both side of the dipstick for the correct level. It is possible with this engine design to have oil visible on one side and not the other thus giving a false reading.

zeroptzero

damage could occur if you drove in high g cornering and high rpm driving leading to oil starvation. If you drove relatively easy you might be fine. You are about 2 quarts low on oil, give or take. These motors consume oil so you need to check the dipstick regularly and consistently , it's one of the easiest ways to kill these motors if you don't

TheBasedDoge

Well crap, hopefully its all good. All I really did was drive it on the highway a few times. Hopefully at 2 quarts low no damage has occurred.

I'm assuming an oil analysis will tell me, they should be able to detect any extra metal shavings / content in the oil right?

I didn't know about the both sides of the dipstick thing. I'll try that in the morning.

Billman250

Chances are high that the car is fine.

zeroptzero

Highway driving is usually safe, a used oil analysis is a good idea for peace of mind and relatively cheap. If you have normal levels of copper, lead, aluminum, iron you should be fine and hopefully used one of your nine lives, you won't get that many chances though if this keeps happening.

windhund116

Well, I guess you could run an oil analysis... if that helps. Prolly best to check oil usage and let sleeping dogs lie.

Chuck S

Keep a sealed quart of oil in the trunk.

I recall one of the Honda booklets that came with my car indicated the oil level should be checked every fill-up (maybe every other). Once you learn the oil usage you can vary that schedule. I think my '06 has burned a quart (total) in the last 5 year.

-- Chuck