Oil level
#1
Thread Starter
Oil level
I just did a routine oil level check after letting the car sit overnight. The lower reading on the dip stick is two Xs below the top.
Its probaby not critical, yet would you top it off at this point, or wait until it dropped lower?
’01 with 99,750 miles. Intending to keep it forever.
Its probaby not critical, yet would you top it off at this point, or wait until it dropped lower?
’01 with 99,750 miles. Intending to keep it forever.
#2
Top it off. Keep an eye on the level, with every fill-up.
At least, this is what I'd do.
At least, this is what I'd do.
#3
you are still in the very safe zone for typical street driving, you could top it off or go a bit longer it depends on how anal you are about it. I lost an engine so after that I kept it topped full at all times. It really doesn't get dangerously low until you are below the lower mark, and usually on a track doing high -g cornering. Better safe than sorry though.
#4
Two x's below the top when completely cold overnight?
So, it's not even at the halfway point??
I'm surprised some of you guys are saying top it up. Haven't you heard of oil expanding when the motor is hot?
If you have it at the absolute top on a cold motor, it'll be 1-2 X's ABOVE the max line when hot...
I top mine up when it's near the bottom 2 X's on a cold motor (because at that level, it's near the halfway/mid mark on a hot motor). But I've learned how much my motor slips after years of careful, habitual checking at each gas fill-up.
So, it's not even at the halfway point??
I'm surprised some of you guys are saying top it up. Haven't you heard of oil expanding when the motor is hot?
If you have it at the absolute top on a cold motor, it'll be 1-2 X's ABOVE the max line when hot...
I top mine up when it's near the bottom 2 X's on a cold motor (because at that level, it's near the halfway/mid mark on a hot motor). But I've learned how much my motor slips after years of careful, habitual checking at each gas fill-up.
#5
Also on a cold engine like after sitting all night the filter "could" leak oil back to the pan. That "could" give you a slightly false reading. I run a filter that holds more than twice the oil of the Honda filter and I always check it when I fill up(gas) or before a long spirited drive when the engine is hot. But I don't top off till I can put in 3/4 qt.
ROD
ROD
#7
I top it off in that situation.
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#8
Community Organizer
Two x's below the top when completely cold overnight?
So, it's not even at the halfway point??
I'm surprised some of you guys are saying top it up. Haven't you heard of oil expanding when the motor is hot?
If you have it at the absolute top on a cold motor, it'll be 1-2 X's ABOVE the max line when hot...
I top mine up when it's near the bottom 2 X's on a cold motor (because at that level, it's near the halfway/mid mark on a hot motor). But I've learned how much my motor slips after years of careful, habitual checking at each gas fill-up.
So, it's not even at the halfway point??
I'm surprised some of you guys are saying top it up. Haven't you heard of oil expanding when the motor is hot?
If you have it at the absolute top on a cold motor, it'll be 1-2 X's ABOVE the max line when hot...
I top mine up when it's near the bottom 2 X's on a cold motor (because at that level, it's near the halfway/mid mark on a hot motor). But I've learned how much my motor slips after years of careful, habitual checking at each gas fill-up.
#9
I'd top it off.
What do you have to lose?
You said you plan to have it forever- treat it well.
AP1s are notorious for catastrophic events due to low oil.
You'd kick yourself hard if something happened and you knew you could have prevented it with less than $5 worth of oil.
What do you have to lose?
You said you plan to have it forever- treat it well.
AP1s are notorious for catastrophic events due to low oil.
You'd kick yourself hard if something happened and you knew you could have prevented it with less than $5 worth of oil.
#10
Haha. Oil threads on s2ki are generally [oil] pissing matches, so I'll bite.
Let's say the motor oil temperature after a spirited drive is 250°F and on a cold start on a cold morning at rest, it's 60°F -- that gives us a Delta T of 190°F.
Volumetric Coefficient of Expansion of "Oil (unused engine oil)" is ~0.0004 (in units of (1/°F).
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/v...ion-d_315.html
Assuming:
Final Volume - V1 - (quarts): 5.4876
Quoting xViper, "ALL of the 'hash marks' (or X's) equal ONE QUART. I believe there are 5 X's, so each one would be 1/5 qt [0.2 qt]."
So we're looking at a change of ~0.3876 quarts, which should appear as [almost] 2 X marks!
P.S. Here's an article from Click and Clack on "When should you check your oil?"
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20020725&id=Px0VAAAAIBAJ&s jid=5QMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788,2706616
But in all seriousness, ignore my gibberish above and here's a note from our very own Billman:
It is very important that the oil never goes beyond the top Diamond or X. In other words, no filling to the top of the H. This can result in oil hydrolock via the PCV valve.
It happened to a customer of mine at the dragon. .7 quart overfull, the crankshaft smacked the oil hard enough to get it airborn and into the PCV system. The oil hydrolocked the cylinder, and he snapped a connecting rod.
Took an entire weekend to get a U-haul trailer and get him home.
Connecting rod bearing was in perfect condition. Cylinder wall was perfect. Inner intake runners, combustion chamber, and piston top were soaked with oil. After taking the engine apart, I was able to confirm with the customer he was .7 quarts overfill.
Let's say the motor oil temperature after a spirited drive is 250°F and on a cold start on a cold morning at rest, it's 60°F -- that gives us a Delta T of 190°F.
Volumetric Coefficient of Expansion of "Oil (unused engine oil)" is ~0.0004 (in units of (1/°F).
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/v...ion-d_315.html
Assuming:
- 5.1 quarts of motor oil (V0 - initial volume)
- 0.0004 (β - volumetric temperature expansion coefficient (1/°F))
- 60°F (t0 - initial temperature)
- 250°F (t1 - final temperature )
Final Volume - V1 - (quarts): 5.4876
Quoting xViper, "ALL of the 'hash marks' (or X's) equal ONE QUART. I believe there are 5 X's, so each one would be 1/5 qt [0.2 qt]."
So we're looking at a change of ~0.3876 quarts, which should appear as [almost] 2 X marks!
P.S. Here's an article from Click and Clack on "When should you check your oil?"
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20020725&id=Px0VAAAAIBAJ&s jid=5QMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6788,2706616
But in all seriousness, ignore my gibberish above and here's a note from our very own Billman:
It is very important that the oil never goes beyond the top Diamond or X. In other words, no filling to the top of the H. This can result in oil hydrolock via the PCV valve.
It happened to a customer of mine at the dragon. .7 quart overfull, the crankshaft smacked the oil hard enough to get it airborn and into the PCV system. The oil hydrolocked the cylinder, and he snapped a connecting rod.
Took an entire weekend to get a U-haul trailer and get him home.
Connecting rod bearing was in perfect condition. Cylinder wall was perfect. Inner intake runners, combustion chamber, and piston top were soaked with oil. After taking the engine apart, I was able to confirm with the customer he was .7 quarts overfill.
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