When checking the oil
01-13-2008, 05:31 PM
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When checking the oil
Just checked my oil today for the first time @ 656 miles.
No white foam on there. Looked pretty clean. However, it was pretty damn hard to tell where the hell the oil WAS. I just couldn't tell whether or not it was low or full. I tried my hardest to see, but to no avail. I ended up just guestimating and adding about 1/2 a quart.
Is that normal to add 1/2 a quart @ 600-700 miles?
The Oil Meter on the dash has not moved at all either... Broken sensor...?
No white foam on there. Looked pretty clean. However, it was pretty damn hard to tell where the hell the oil WAS. I just couldn't tell whether or not it was low or full. I tried my hardest to see, but to no avail. I ended up just guestimating and adding about 1/2 a quart.
Is that normal to add 1/2 a quart @ 600-700 miles?
The Oil Meter on the dash has not moved at all either... Broken sensor...?
Last edited by fugg; 01-13-2008 at 05:59 PM.
01-13-2008, 06:04 PM
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lol, it cant be broken if it never worked in the 1st place...that meter is there just for eye candy, its useless...i wonder if i completely drain the oil and move the key to the on position would it still stay past the mid mark???
01-13-2008, 08:59 PM
#12
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There is NO oil meter.
May I just repeat that for the slower amongst us - there is NO oil meter.
The gauge measures (very roughly) oil pressure.
The only way the gauge would react to a low level, is where you have NO oil, therefore no pressure.
Just top it up and don't overthink the problem......
S
May I just repeat that for the slower amongst us - there is NO oil meter.
The gauge measures (very roughly) oil pressure.
The only way the gauge would react to a low level, is where you have NO oil, therefore no pressure.
Just top it up and don't overthink the problem......
S
01-13-2008, 09:01 PM
#13
Insanely Yellow
Ah yet another reason why this site has jumped the shark.
1) Yes, 1/2 quart at 600 to 700 miles is entirely within reason.
2) I agree it's hard to see the oil level on the dipstick, especially when the engine is new and the oil is clean. What I do is pull the stick, wipe it, put it back, pull it again, and this time I blot the stick on a paper towel (note blot, not wipe) and then compare the resulting oil print against the stick's markings. Works like a charm.
3) The "oil meter" on the dash is not a "full-empty" gauge like a gas gauge. It supposedly is an oil pressure gauge - measuring oil pressure in the engine. That said, it only registers two things - either pressure or none - with only two places the needle can be - pegged at zero or at the 6/10's point on the scale.
There is an oil-level warning light should the oil level get about a half-quart below the "add" line - indicating the engine is 1.5 quarts low.
1) Yes, 1/2 quart at 600 to 700 miles is entirely within reason.
2) I agree it's hard to see the oil level on the dipstick, especially when the engine is new and the oil is clean. What I do is pull the stick, wipe it, put it back, pull it again, and this time I blot the stick on a paper towel (note blot, not wipe) and then compare the resulting oil print against the stick's markings. Works like a charm.
3) The "oil meter" on the dash is not a "full-empty" gauge like a gas gauge. It supposedly is an oil pressure gauge - measuring oil pressure in the engine. That said, it only registers two things - either pressure or none - with only two places the needle can be - pegged at zero or at the 6/10's point on the scale.
There is an oil-level warning light should the oil level get about a half-quart below the "add" line - indicating the engine is 1.5 quarts low.
01-13-2008, 09:03 PM
#14
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Fugg - As Turbo says, wipe the stick clean and re-dip. And, as others have said, the stick can be hard to read when the car is new and oil is clean. Shine a light on it, look for where it's shiny.
The gauge is not an oil level gauge. It shows oil pressure. As others have said, it's not really useful: just shows one position when there's pressure. Kind of an idiot light. If that gauge ever drops, there's no oil pressure and you're in big trouble. Shut it off immediately.
The 8 does have a warning light that goes on if the oil level is too low. Not good to let it get that low, but you can keep driving til you get someplace with oil to add.
Don't mind nycgps. He's a good guy, very knowledgable, very helpful. Just carries that New York City ambiance.
Ken
The gauge is not an oil level gauge. It shows oil pressure. As others have said, it's not really useful: just shows one position when there's pressure. Kind of an idiot light. If that gauge ever drops, there's no oil pressure and you're in big trouble. Shut it off immediately.
The 8 does have a warning light that goes on if the oil level is too low. Not good to let it get that low, but you can keep driving til you get someplace with oil to add.
Don't mind nycgps. He's a good guy, very knowledgable, very helpful. Just carries that New York City ambiance.
Ken
01-13-2008, 09:14 PM
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01-13-2008, 09:38 PM
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I don't think his problem with reading the oil has to do with lighting or procedure. I think it's just that figuring out the oil line is difficult in general for all cars if you don't have experience and therefore don't know what to look for.
Of course use a flashlight or gas station lights or natural sunlight to help. But basically you're looking for ANY SIGN OF OIL. Wherever there's the slightest bit of oil, then the oil line extends to that point. On the other side of the oil line should be ABSOLUTELY NO OIL. There's no guessing or guess-timating or averaging a messy fuzzy line. It's not about a fuzzy line. Wherever there's even a little bit of oil, then the oil line includes that.
The oil may be a very thin layer but it will glisten a little under the lighting. Where there's no oil you can see the metal but without as much gloss. Look for the discernible contrast line between the glistening oil and the lack of.
Of course use a flashlight or gas station lights or natural sunlight to help. But basically you're looking for ANY SIGN OF OIL. Wherever there's the slightest bit of oil, then the oil line extends to that point. On the other side of the oil line should be ABSOLUTELY NO OIL. There's no guessing or guess-timating or averaging a messy fuzzy line. It's not about a fuzzy line. Wherever there's even a little bit of oil, then the oil line includes that.
The oil may be a very thin layer but it will glisten a little under the lighting. Where there's no oil you can see the metal but without as much gloss. Look for the discernible contrast line between the glistening oil and the lack of.
Last edited by Startl_Respons; 01-13-2008 at 09:41 PM.
01-14-2008, 06:18 PM
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Remember there is 1.8qts between the "F" and "L" marks on the dip stick and there is no reason to add half a quart. Wait till its in the bottom half of the span and then add a quart. Don't make it any more complex then it is. I have put over 520K on seven Rotary engines Mazda's and have just changed the oil and filter when it gets near the low mark. Never had to replace one(engine) yet.
01-14-2008, 08:39 PM
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because god doesn't love you, that's why :P
I've been thinking of crosshatching my dipstick with a dremel or something just so that I get some kind of contrast that will let me know where the damn oil level is! the dipstick has to be one of the worst features of the car, at least you expect bad gas mileage from a sports car...
I've been thinking of crosshatching my dipstick with a dremel or something just so that I get some kind of contrast that will let me know where the damn oil level is! the dipstick has to be one of the worst features of the car, at least you expect bad gas mileage from a sports car...
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