After just completing the first 1000 miles since picking the car up last Friday I have checked the engine oil level for the second time. Both the manual and dealer recommended checking every fuel stop (not realistic), certainly every 1000 miles. Mine simply does not appear to have used any oil at all ! I have read threads on the forum of excessive oil use as well.

Now you can't get checking the dip stick wrong can you, so I thought I would just check that (as the manual states) it should be checked 5 minutes after having run the car, i.e. not when it has all dropped into the sump ?

On a similar vein, I am going to check the tyre pressures tomorrow. Again, should this be 32PSI when they are hot, i.e. after running the car ?

Maybe the new 2002 model just doesn't use oil like the 2000/1 cars ? What have the other new owners found ?

 

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear..........your car isn't using heaps of oil???

Big trouble!

Sorry, being serious for a moment - oil usage is not at all consistent from car to car - you get lots of posts about cars burning oil, and yes, it is certainly a feature of quite a few cars - but the quantity and duration over which they continue to loose oil vary greatly.

There are certainly folks who have posted - like you Al - that there car hasnt used a drop of oil since day 1 (just like a proper new car )

As long as you keep an eye on the dipstick, and you keep seeing oil up to the top 'x' you'll be fine (do wipe the dipstick before taking the oil level reading tho') I am quite sure there is nothing to worry about.

 

Actually, on the S2000 you can get a false reading on the dipstick. Be certain to look at both sides of the dipstick and observe the "lowest" reading. Apparently, the dip stick being more to the center of the head rather than going directly into the sump can yield inflated readings.

Tire pressures are usually taken while cold, NOT after the car has been running.

 

Shouldnt the oil be checked after engine has stood for at least thirty mins???

Good point about checking the dipstick - I was only checking one side for weeks and it looked fine. Finally checked the other side and it was very low! For us lefthanddrivers, use the nearside to get the best reading.

HTH

Keith

 

You may now see an exponential increase in oil consumption now you can Vtec .

you will also find a increase in consumption after a track day

RE Tyre Pressures, make sure its a good couple of hours after stopping before testing, topped mine up at a garage, checking with Halfords, digital gauge, after only 7 miles, tyres felt cold to the touch, so 32 psi in all round, next morning checked again, 30.5 psi all round!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BIG Al (UK)
[B]

 

I remember looking at a digital tyre pressure gauge some years ago. It said, "accurate to 0.5 psi". However if you read the small print this said, "please allow for a 2 psi error".

I presume the new Halfords one is improved???

 

FWIW there are/were some tests of pressure gauges on autoexpress under Product Tests or somewhere equally unlikely.
They did evaluate accuracy.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

But I am sure that there are some

 

What it probably said was 0.5 resolution, accurate to +/- 2 psi etc, in the temperature range.....etc,etc.

As I'm an Instrument Calibration engineer I know the scams they try.

New one was a choice of two digital ones from Halfords, both now accurate to +/- 1 psi (in the temperature range, blah, blah) but the more expensive one has a resolution of 0.5 psi units, is back-lit and looks nicer too(IMHO).

What they don't mention is 'level of confidence' now that is a right can of worms!!

 

Just for a laugh. I have three( - one the tatty one on the foot pump; second an old digital one from Halfords; the third the one I bought for the S2000). They all give the same reading within .5 psi.
Should my confidence level be high?