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I was always told that you check oil level on a warm engine, but I need a little help to make sure I am getting an accurate reading, and that checking a warm engine is necessarily the best move.
After switching to full synth I noticed a bit of an oil leak, which I suspect is coming from the rear main seal. Sometimes it leaks to the point of dripping a bit on the exhaust, and sometimes it does not. Needless to say I have been keeping a close eye on oil level.
Up until last weekend I never noticed anything that I would describe as a change in level. Last week when I checked the oil it appeared that the level was getting toward the 1/4 mark in the "acceptable level". I added approximately an 1/8 of a quart, and then ran the car a little bit, shut it off, and it appeared that the thing was now at the full mark.
Reading around a bit, I realized I should have waited a few minutes before checking, and probably found oil that was all over the crankcase, so I had a false reading...duh
So today I came home, and left the car for about 20 minutes, and then checked the oil. The oil showed up onto the round part of the top of the dipstick, but not past the part that curves in toward the metal. I figured that the oil must still be all over the place, and figured I would give it a try later.
It was then sitting for around 3 hours, and I checked it again. The oil still is showing at that level, but the engine should be totally "cool". Of course the engine is still warm, as the 93's seem to retain the heat for any period except overnight. So now I am wondering, am I damaging the engine? Do I have way too much oil in?
Also, how should I be checking to get the best results. Should I just check it cold? Should I check it 15 minutes after it's shut off? What?
From what it looks like now, I guess I am about a 1/4 of a qt overfull. But I am still not convinced... as the one time I had a reading it was showing on the low end of the dipstick, and if that line indicates 1 qt, I cannot see how the amount I added would have made the reading go up that much.
So at the very worst, exluding any oil loss is that I have about 4.5qt in there. According to the manual the engine takes 4.0l or 4.2qt. So I am .3 over at the worst. Further what I do not get is if I put 4.2qt into the engine, shouldnt it read at midway between min and max, or is 4.2 right at max? There is no way I have put more that 4.5qt in, that I know for sure.
The manual says that excess oil can cause abdormal oil consumption, whatever that means. I would assume it to mean excessive pressure and leaks
Thanks,
Doug
After switching to full synth I noticed a bit of an oil leak, which I suspect is coming from the rear main seal. Sometimes it leaks to the point of dripping a bit on the exhaust, and sometimes it does not. Needless to say I have been keeping a close eye on oil level.
Up until last weekend I never noticed anything that I would describe as a change in level. Last week when I checked the oil it appeared that the level was getting toward the 1/4 mark in the "acceptable level". I added approximately an 1/8 of a quart, and then ran the car a little bit, shut it off, and it appeared that the thing was now at the full mark.
Reading around a bit, I realized I should have waited a few minutes before checking, and probably found oil that was all over the crankcase, so I had a false reading...duh
So today I came home, and left the car for about 20 minutes, and then checked the oil. The oil showed up onto the round part of the top of the dipstick, but not past the part that curves in toward the metal. I figured that the oil must still be all over the place, and figured I would give it a try later.
It was then sitting for around 3 hours, and I checked it again. The oil still is showing at that level, but the engine should be totally "cool". Of course the engine is still warm, as the 93's seem to retain the heat for any period except overnight. So now I am wondering, am I damaging the engine? Do I have way too much oil in?
Also, how should I be checking to get the best results. Should I just check it cold? Should I check it 15 minutes after it's shut off? What?
From what it looks like now, I guess I am about a 1/4 of a qt overfull. But I am still not convinced... as the one time I had a reading it was showing on the low end of the dipstick, and if that line indicates 1 qt, I cannot see how the amount I added would have made the reading go up that much.
So at the very worst, exluding any oil loss is that I have about 4.5qt in there. According to the manual the engine takes 4.0l or 4.2qt. So I am .3 over at the worst. Further what I do not get is if I put 4.2qt into the engine, shouldnt it read at midway between min and max, or is 4.2 right at max? There is no way I have put more that 4.5qt in, that I know for sure.
The manual says that excess oil can cause abdormal oil consumption, whatever that means. I would assume it to mean excessive pressure and leaks
Thanks,
Doug