Not sure if it has to do with just my car having more miles on it now (around 60k). I generally check during each fill up or other fill up and notice my car is pretty conservative on oil consumption. However the past two oil changes, i noticed the oil consumption has increased drastically. Should this be something I'm concerned about? Could it have anything to do with hte summer weather? Mileage on car? I just recently had an oil change and about 4 weeks into it now, i noticed at my last fill up when i checked the dip stick i'm at half already. If each X is relative to a qt of oil, that means i've sucked up about 2 1/2 qts of oil within a month? Just wanted to make sure i'm correct on whether or not each X represents a qt so i don't accidently overfill the engine with oil. Could something be off?

 

correct me if I'm wrong but all the X's from low to high = 1 quart right? At least thats what i thought

 

from L to H is one qt. i dont know about the ap2's but i have a 2002 and i burn thru a qt. every oil change, sometimes more

 

I own an ap2, i assume there shouldn't be a difference? So the entire range from L to H is just one quart, so each X doesn't really represent one qt each?

 

yeah, i have ap2 and i just did some research and it should be the same as L > H = 1 quart

 

so where are the other 4 qts measured, etc (i assume in use)? Sorry, total newbie questions

 

You dont need to measure anything else. If your car is ever below the L line then you have less than 4 quarts of oil and you need to fill it up with oil IMMEDIATELY before you fry your rod bearings. Check the oil first thing in the morning when its cold. Anywhere in between the L and H is fine.

 

how much of a difference is it usually between checking when its hot and cold. I assume cold is accurate as oppose to hot.

 

Well oil expands when its hot, and when you just drove it the oil hasnt had a chance to drip back into the oil pan yet. Its best to do it cold. Just make sure it stays within those x's.

 

the marks are there for a reason, below the low line is like the murderer said, 4 qts. i usually keep mine right at the high mark, its not bad to do that, especilally with an ap1. ap2's dont burn through oil like mine does. every x does not mean a quart otherwise you would be dumping 8 qts of oil in your car. and then it would die. our cars burn oil cause of vtec spray. ap1's more than ap2's from what ive been told. check it a couple of times a week. in the morning. i would suggest keeping it to the higher end, just not over. have fun running, keith