no oil level reading on dipstick
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Ontario Canada
Originally Posted by s2k_Doug67' timestamp='1415670095' post='23400435
I recently went to check my oil level and when i pulled the dipstick it, wiped it, put it back in, and checked it; there was no oil on it. Only a small amount on the very tip of the dipstick. So I turned the car, let it warm up to three bars, shut it off, and then waited 5 minutes before checking again. Same thing, only a small amount on the very tip of the dipstick. I got an oil change about 1500 miles ago, so there should be plenty of oil in the engine. Just looking for an explanation to why the dipstick is showing that the engine has no oil?
|H<><><><><>L|
When you are at the L mark, you are exactly one quart shy. Burning through a quart of oil in 1,500 is not uncommon, so there is nothing to be alarmed about. If you want your engine to last, you should top her off. Make it a habit to check the oil every time you get gas or every 400 miles.
Dip sticks don't lie! BUT! They do have two sides.
Meaning- Make sure you check both sides and go with the lowest reading.
Yup, if you are at the Lower of the <> marks then you are about 1 quart low, but if the level is at the bottom of the dipstick then you are more like 2 quarts low. There is a long distance between the bottom of the dipstick and the first of the <> L marks.
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Originally Posted by fernando.' timestamp='1415670798' post='23400453
I top up my oil regularly, like once a week. I'd say I add around 2 quarts between oil changes, and I do my oil changes every 5,000km's (3,100 miles)
Also, on every single car ever made it's exactly a quart from the low hashmark to the high hashmark, or L to F, or dot to dot, or whatever other form the dipstick can vary from.
Also, on every single car ever made it's exactly a quart from the low hashmark to the high hashmark, or L to F, or dot to dot, or whatever other form the dipstick can vary from.
My oil is still at the full mark after 6 track days and 2 AutoX's, plus some street driving.
. IDK why these threads always turn into a place for those who don't consume oil to make sure the rest of the world knows that they don't consume oil. If your S2k doesn't consume oil then great, take the extra $100 a year and buy something nice!! But coming onto threads and saying "my s2k doesn't consume oil" does nothing for the thread except make the OP think their car is broken, which it is NOT (although after running it on no oil I am sure it isn't better for it). The point is if you have been on these forums long enough then you know some consume over 1qt per 1k and run flawlessly and some don't consume a drop. So what purpose does saying your 1 of 75% that don't do for the OP. Sorry, not trying to be a d!ck, but man every single one of these end up here. BTW the oil is consumed, I argue burnt isn't necessarily accurate.
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From: Portland
Why would you start the car and let it warm up to check it again?
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Ontario Canada
One other flaw is taking the reading on the first pull of the dipstick, you need to pull out the dipstick wipe it clean and reinsert, and then take the reading after that. I've seen the dipstick indicate full on the first pull, then after wiping and reinserting the reading was down to the Low mark. Something to keep in mind.
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From: los angeles, california
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From: los angeles, california
Fill it back up and check it more regularly, like every time you fill with gas. I would avoid any hard cornering and high rpm use when the oil level gets that low that's when the damage can occur.
I think the very bottom of the dipstick is more than one quart shy, the bottom of the H XXXX L range is closer to one quart shy, but the bottom of the dipstick is more like 2 quarts shy. That is the dangerous zone.
I think the very bottom of the dipstick is more than one quart shy, the bottom of the H XXXX L range is closer to one quart shy, but the bottom of the dipstick is more like 2 quarts shy. That is the dangerous zone.
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Portland
Originally Posted by JFUSION
You can check it cold or hot, just be consistent once you choose to go by cold readings. One other flaw is taking the reading on the first pull of the dipstick, you need to pull out the dipstick wipe it clean and reinsert, and then take the reading after that. I've seen the dipstick indicate full on the first pull, then after wiping and reinserting the reading was down to the Low mark. Something to keep in mind.
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Greenwood, AR
Originally Posted by yamahaSHO' timestamp='1415672511' post='23400507
[quote name='fernando.' timestamp='1415670798' post='23400453']
I top up my oil regularly, like once a week. I'd say I add around 2 quarts between oil changes, and I do my oil changes every 5,000km's (3,100 miles)
Also, on every single car ever made it's exactly a quart from the low hashmark to the high hashmark, or L to F, or dot to dot, or whatever other form the dipstick can vary from.
I top up my oil regularly, like once a week. I'd say I add around 2 quarts between oil changes, and I do my oil changes every 5,000km's (3,100 miles)
Also, on every single car ever made it's exactly a quart from the low hashmark to the high hashmark, or L to F, or dot to dot, or whatever other form the dipstick can vary from.
My oil is still at the full mark after 6 track days and 2 AutoX's, plus some street driving.
.[/quote]
I sorta, maybe, kinda, probably acknowledged the AP1 thing... I am also comparing street driving to considerably more stressful driving.
IDK why these threads always turn into a place for those who don't consume oil to make sure the rest of the world knows that they don't consume oil. If your S2k doesn't consume oil then great, take the extra $100 a year and buy something nice!! But coming onto threads and saying "my s2k doesn't consume oil" does nothing for the thread except make the OP think their car is broken, which it is NOT (although after running it on no oil I am sure it isn't better for it). The point is if you have been on these forums long enough then you know some consume over 1qt per 1k and run flawlessly and some don't consume a drop. So what purpose does saying your 1 of 75% that don't do for the OP.
Sorry, not trying to be a d!ck, but man every single one of these end up here. BTW the oil is consumed, I argue burnt isn't necessarily accurate.
Sorry, not trying to be a d!ck, but man every single one of these end up here. BTW the oil is consumed, I argue burnt isn't necessarily accurate.
Oh... And get over it.
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Ontario Canada
Originally Posted by JFUSION
You can check it cold or hot, just be consistent once you choose to go by cold readings. One other flaw is taking the reading on the first pull of the dipstick, you need to pull out the dipstick wipe it clean and reinsert, and then take the reading after that. I've seen the dipstick indicate full on the first pull, then after wiping and reinserting the reading was down to the Low mark. Something to keep in mind.