I check mine every month unless i take a road trip then i check it every fill up.
Checking oil level daily...
- Thread starter rcy
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I check my oil about once a month, or every 2-3,000km's. The car doesn't use a drop between changes, I check it more to see the shape its in - I know this doesn't indicate if the oil is worn out, but I still change it roughly every 6-8,000km's, depending on how dark is from these checks.....
I check fluids and tires every other Saturday. It's paid off. Last summer a tire that looked ok was down 5psi. If I had not been in the habit of checking I would have driven off and as it turned out it had a nail in it.
I rarely check my oil level, maybe once a couple of months. I haven't had to add oil to a car between changes in over 10 years so it gets kind of boring when it is at or almost at full all the time. In college I had a car that burned a lot of oil ('87 Escort) and I had to check it every time I got gas and keep it topped off. I only used it on breaks since I didn't need a car at school or the expense of it. My mom ran it out of oil and fried the engine one spring just before I got home. It was a nice welcome home present. She had the motor replaced of course so I was only out of a car a short while. I hope to never have a oil burning gas motor again.
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I usually check the wife's jeep every other fillup. It's proven unnecessary for up to 10,000 miles ..but you never know when something is going to change.
My daughter is driving MY JEEP
and I can't always get to it when she's putting in fuel and her schedule is archaic. I grab it once a week usually. Her biggest enemy is tire pressure. I took the jeep on a 250 mile road trip and checked the tires before getting into any serious driving and they were below 20 psi. They're LT tires on a relatively light chassis, so you don't notice any apparent symptoms. The ride is soft ..but not sloppy. She's way too involved in activities to manage this ..at least without my hitting her in the head with a baseball bat (yes, I've physically walked her through the motions on this)..so I check them when I check the oil.
My daughter is driving MY JEEP
Careful - in checking that oil tooo often.
Incase, y'all don't remember; I'm the one who's oil dipstick literally broke in two about a year ago.
Pulled it out to check the oil, one of those long twisty types, and before I could get it all the way out, it snapped in two.
$75 dollars later, the remaining 3" of stick was removed from the bottom of the tube. I now only check it once every 2-3 weeks instead of the weekly routine; never uses any oil anyway.
Incase, y'all don't remember; I'm the one who's oil dipstick literally broke in two about a year ago.
Pulled it out to check the oil, one of those long twisty types, and before I could get it all the way out, it snapped in two.
$75 dollars later, the remaining 3" of stick was removed from the bottom of the tube. I now only check it once every 2-3 weeks instead of the weekly routine; never uses any oil anyway.
There are alot worse habits you could have. I also am OC about checking my oil even though I have 4 personal vehicles and two Kubota tractors,3 ATVS,2 lawnmowers. None of my stuff uses any oil between changes but I still stay on top of them anyway. It has also allowed me to spot a small problem at times that could have been worse had I only checked my oil monthly.
QUESTION= Do you also like to take a whiff of that golden mixture on the dipstick? BE HONEST
Yes, I know I have issues but I also have people that know how OC about my maintenance I am and will buy my stuff for a good price when I am ready to buy something new. Everyone wants to buy from a maintenance nut even if they do think he has problems.
QUESTION= Do you also like to take a whiff of that golden mixture on the dipstick? BE HONEST
Yes, I know I have issues but I also have people that know how OC about my maintenance I am and will buy my stuff for a good price when I am ready to buy something new. Everyone wants to buy from a maintenance nut even if they do think he has problems.
Never meant daily, I check about 3 times a week, each time I add a little oil, as I burn 1 quart every 1000 miles with 300 miles a week driven. I like to keep it at the top.
However... I did run into one problem today you non-checkers can use to your advantage. Added some oil this morning on my way to class, but forgot to put the filler cap back on
. Anyway before I got onto the highway decided to stop at Wendys, and as I was pulling into the parking lot I heard a squeal, and a pop. Parked, opened the hood, saw no filler cap, did a
and started walking towards pepboys. Got some paper towels and a cap, and while I was cleaning I found where the pop sound came from : my alternator belt snapped! Drove the car home, it ran smooth but without power steering. Didn't realize till later that belt also powers the water pump
but luckily I didn't overheat (and it was only 2 miles from my house anyway).
Oh well, gotta change all 3 belts this weekend, oil weakened the other ones and my AC belt tore right down the center. And yes ill still check my oil as often as I do.
However... I did run into one problem today you non-checkers can use to your advantage. Added some oil this morning on my way to class, but forgot to put the filler cap back on
Oh well, gotta change all 3 belts this weekend, oil weakened the other ones and my AC belt tore right down the center. And yes ill still check my oil as often as I do.
All those mysterious "wear metals" from the dipstick tube
continuos contact with used motor oils has caused cancer in lab animals... glad i'm not a lab animal
Quote:
However... I did run into one problem today you non-checkers can use to your advantage. Added some oil this morning on my way to class, but forgot to put the filler cap back on. Anyway before I got onto the highway decided to stop at Wendys, and as I was pulling into the parking lot I heard a squeal, and a pop. Parked, opened the hood, saw no filler cap, did aand started walking towards pepboys. Got some paper towels and a cap, and while I was cleaning I found where the pop sound came from : my alternator belt snapped! Drove the car home, it ran smooth but without power steering. Didn't realize till later that belt also powers the water pumpbut luckily I didn't overheat (and it was only 2 miles from my house anyway).
that's one thing I do when I check my oil every other week and that is to look at everything else..not just the engine oil. just a 5 minute peak at the coolant level/brake fluid level/power steering fluid/transmission fluid level. even the accessory belts/radiator hoses. I look at the battery for corrosion too.
Kestas
Staff member
I wouldn't suggest that. Why can't you do it on your driveway? This way others won't get inconvenienced.
IMO, oil level is most accurate when all the oil is in the pan, so I check mine first thing every saturday morning, when it has been sitting for at least 12 hours. Unfortunately it's a cuss-fest every saturday morning due to Nissan's retarded dipstick design.
Patman
Staff member
I wish all cars would have an oil level gauge on the instrument panel like the Porsche 911 (do the new ones still have them?)
With some cars I've owned it's virtually impossible to get a proper reading on the stick, such as with the two different 5.0 Mustangs I used to own.
With some cars I've owned it's virtually impossible to get a proper reading on the stick, such as with the two different 5.0 Mustangs I used to own.
i check my oil and tires once a week or every other week even know it doesnt use any between oil changes.
If you've owned the car more than a few weeks, you already know how much oil it consumes, so what's the point? Engines just don't seem to burn or leak nearly as much oil as they once did. The only time I'll check between changes is if we're headed on a long trip. Otherwise, there is no point to it.
On another note, a properly maintained Brit car need not leak any oil. Most of the collectables have been rebuilt with modern gaskets and seals, while the few originals have been well maintained. My late black bumper MGB doesn't leak at all, and has done all of 100K in its thirty years. These are also very durable cars mechanically. The BMC B-series engine is the English small block Chevy, and has seen use in a wide range of applications going back to the mid-fifties.
On another note, a properly maintained Brit car need not leak any oil. Most of the collectables have been rebuilt with modern gaskets and seals, while the few originals have been well maintained. My late black bumper MGB doesn't leak at all, and has done all of 100K in its thirty years. These are also very durable cars mechanically. The BMC B-series engine is the English small block Chevy, and has seen use in a wide range of applications going back to the mid-fifties.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
My neighbors probably think I am goofy.
I check all fluids and tire pressures once a week. Being single and relying on my vehicle for 25 mile each way commutes on urban interstates, I feel it is a safety matter. Knock on wood, I have not been surprised on the road in over 10 years of living in KC.
No, I only smell VIRGIN oil in bottles. Speaking of weirdness, I will admit I sometimes (ok lotsa times) like to open the hood of my van and just stare at the motor. Even better is when it's running. So far, I don't talk to it.
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