I have heard that some people choose not to top off oil until it is a full quart low. Noticed recently that this is actually what the owner's manual says on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Are there any other manufacturers that recommend not adding oil until level reaches the "add" mark?
Do not add until oil level hits "add" mark.
- Thread starter otis24
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Screw that, I add oil when its about halfway down the hash marks.
I only add not even quite half a quart to make sure its not over "full"
That is bullocks!
I only add not even quite half a quart to make sure its not over "full"
That is bullocks!
Originally Posted By: defektes
They probably do that because incompetent owners would overfill their oil.
HAHAH! +1
They probably do that because incompetent owners would overfill their oil.
HAHAH! +1
My Honda, Lexus and MB manuals say add oil when level is down to the add mark but do not overfill. Oil level between full and add is okay. I add what is needed when the level is at middle.
I add anywhere from the half quart to quarter quart low zone (no its not marked, I'm just familiar enough with adding it now that I can gauge how low it is from a glance at the stick - goes with the territory when you own a burner). That's low enough for me to pop the fill cap off while I already have the hood up.
-Spyder
-Spyder
JHZR2
Staff member
I think that is a combo of two things:
- protection agains inaccurate readings due to terrain or stupidity
- less oil heats quicker but likely has a higher bulk temperature, so the engine benefits from either in a different way... Average them.
- protection agains inaccurate readings due to terrain or stupidity
- less oil heats quicker but likely has a higher bulk temperature, so the engine benefits from either in a different way... Average them.
Between the add line and full line is safe. Though if you run hard, IMO full to the full line is good .
Originally Posted By: otis24
I have heard that some people choose not to top off oil until it is a full quart low. Noticed recently that this is actually what the owner's manual says on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Are there any other manufacturers that recommend not adding oil until level reaches the "add" mark?
I think most say that. Both our vehicles manual's say DO NOT ADD OIL unless the oil level is below the ADD line. In bold print too just like how I typed.
I let it get down to the halfway point or so and then add some. I would not sleep otherwise.
I have heard that some people choose not to top off oil until it is a full quart low. Noticed recently that this is actually what the owner's manual says on my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Are there any other manufacturers that recommend not adding oil until level reaches the "add" mark?
I think most say that. Both our vehicles manual's say DO NOT ADD OIL unless the oil level is below the ADD line. In bold print too just like how I typed.
I let it get down to the halfway point or so and then add some. I would not sleep otherwise.
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
Originally Posted By: rclint
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
Most cars do not have a low oil level light. I have only owned one car that did due to it being very difficult to check the level.
I like to have it at the full mark whenever I can.
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: rclint
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
The low oil warning light is not to be relied on as an indication that its time to check your oil and top up. I speak from painful experience on that one.
My previous car had the oil pan replaced and they used the wrong gaskets. I caught that right away and brought it back. They admitted the mistake, apologized, "corrected" it, and after checking the oil level a couple times over the next day or two was satisfied that all was well. This was back when I still had a shred of trust in service stations (now long gone, completely and irrevocably).
About a week after the "fix," while on the highway and doing about 70 mph, the oil lamp lit, and a second later (well before I could react to it), the engine threw a rod. A check of the oil sump showed that it was dry, and it was determined that the problem was never fixed - the leak was simply band-aided well enough I would have only caught it if I'd checked the oil daily - which I had no reason to do.
I'm just speaking from experience. YMMV but that experience led to regular checks on this car (every fill up and usually an extra check or two in between, and yes this is an OCD type thing that's developed after that last experience) and I don't rely on the oil lamp. My experience leads me to believe that it will not light up when you're down to about two quarts, but instead when the oil level is near dry and catastrophic damage (like a rod being thrown through the block because of complete lubrication failure) is about to occur.
If you ever see that light light up and you have enough time to react by gearing to neutral, killing the engine, and coasting to the side of the road, and have avoided damage then you can count yourself lucky on that one. Its not an indicator that its time to check the oil. Its an indicator that oil pressure has already dropped well below the point that an engine whose owner wants to keep in good condition should never see.
-Spyder
Originally Posted By: rclint
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
The low oil warning light is not to be relied on as an indication that its time to check your oil and top up. I speak from painful experience on that one.
My previous car had the oil pan replaced and they used the wrong gaskets. I caught that right away and brought it back. They admitted the mistake, apologized, "corrected" it, and after checking the oil level a couple times over the next day or two was satisfied that all was well. This was back when I still had a shred of trust in service stations (now long gone, completely and irrevocably).
About a week after the "fix," while on the highway and doing about 70 mph, the oil lamp lit, and a second later (well before I could react to it), the engine threw a rod. A check of the oil sump showed that it was dry, and it was determined that the problem was never fixed - the leak was simply band-aided well enough I would have only caught it if I'd checked the oil daily - which I had no reason to do.
I'm just speaking from experience. YMMV but that experience led to regular checks on this car (every fill up and usually an extra check or two in between, and yes this is an OCD type thing that's developed after that last experience) and I don't rely on the oil lamp. My experience leads me to believe that it will not light up when you're down to about two quarts, but instead when the oil level is near dry and catastrophic damage (like a rod being thrown through the block because of complete lubrication failure) is about to occur.
If you ever see that light light up and you have enough time to react by gearing to neutral, killing the engine, and coasting to the side of the road, and have avoided damage then you can count yourself lucky on that one. Its not an indicator that its time to check the oil. Its an indicator that oil pressure has already dropped well below the point that an engine whose owner wants to keep in good condition should never see.
-Spyder
This thread reminds me of the one where the guy complained Oil Life Monitors are misleading because if the OLM calls for a change at, say, 4000 miles, your engine might already be ruined if it leaks or burns a lot of oil in that time. Somehow, he missed the line in the owner's manual that says "always check your oil level at each fill-up".
It was a pretty funny thread.
It was a pretty funny thread.
Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: rclint
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
The low oil warning light is not to be relied on as an indication that its time to check your oil and top up. I speak from painful experience on that one.
I'm just speaking from experience. YMMV but that experience led to regular checks on this car (every fill up and usually an extra check or two in between, and yes this is an OCD type thing that's developed after that last experience) and I don't rely on the oil lamp. My experience leads me to believe that it will not light up when you're down to about two quarts, but instead when the oil level is near dry and catastrophic damage (like a rod being thrown through the block because of complete lubrication failure) is about to occur.
If you ever see that light light up and you have enough time to react by gearing to neutral, killing the engine, and coasting to the side of the road, and have avoided damage then you can count yourself lucky on that one. Its not an indicator that its time to check the oil. Its an indicator that oil pressure has already dropped well below the point that an engine whose owner wants to keep in good condition should never see.
-Spyder
I think you are confusing the low oil pressure light with a low oil light. I've seen very few cars that have both. My Aerostars do. On the side of the oil pan is a sensor. If the oil level is more than a quart low the light will come on. This is seperate and independent of the oil pressure gauge.
I've tested it when I was changing oil and it works, but I never let my cars get more than about half a quart below the full mark.
I agree though - most oil pressure lights are worthless. So are some stock oil pressure gauges. Ford in many of their vehicles have an oil pressure gauge that always reads at the half way point.
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: rclint
I do not add until the level hits the add mark, and always check my oil in the same place.. level drive way.. I think the engine has a designed in safety margin with oil sump, and the add to full line is just that.
I don't understand how so many engines are lasting so very long with so many "incompetent" owners ?? Maybe some modest/conceded thinking going on here in the forum.
I agree, the low oil warning idiot light does not come on until about 2 quarts or more less than the full mark, and it's usually about more than 1 quart below the add line.
The low oil warning light is not to be relied on as an indication that its time to check your oil and top up. I speak from painful experience on that one.
I'm just speaking from experience. YMMV but that experience led to regular checks on this car (every fill up and usually an extra check or two in between, and yes this is an OCD type thing that's developed after that last experience) and I don't rely on the oil lamp. My experience leads me to believe that it will not light up when you're down to about two quarts, but instead when the oil level is near dry and catastrophic damage (like a rod being thrown through the block because of complete lubrication failure) is about to occur.
If you ever see that light light up and you have enough time to react by gearing to neutral, killing the engine, and coasting to the side of the road, and have avoided damage then you can count yourself lucky on that one. Its not an indicator that its time to check the oil. Its an indicator that oil pressure has already dropped well below the point that an engine whose owner wants to keep in good condition should never see.
-Spyder
I think you are confusing the low oil pressure light with a low oil light. I've seen very few cars that have both. My Aerostars do. On the side of the oil pan is a sensor. If the oil level is more than a quart low the light will come on. This is seperate and independent of the oil pressure gauge.
I've tested it when I was changing oil and it works, but I never let my cars get more than about half a quart below the full mark.
I agree though - most oil pressure lights are worthless. So are some stock oil pressure gauges. Ford in many of their vehicles have an oil pressure gauge that always reads at the half way point.
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Cars used to need oil regularly between changes -sometimes pretty fast.
It was much more palatable to let it go down to the fill mark, then.
But now I could not let it go down that far.
1/2 down is about it for me.
It was much more palatable to let it go down to the fill mark, then.
But now I could not let it go down that far.
1/2 down is about it for me.
My '96 Olds 98 had the low oil level light which I only saw once. The sump was at the full mark and the sensor was bad.
If it's close to the halfway mark, I'm adding oil....can't help myself
The exception to this is my diesel, as it's VERY hard to get an accurate reading, you'll get different readings each time you pull the dipstick too.
With that truck, as long as it's above the add mark, I'm fine.
The exception to this is my diesel, as it's VERY hard to get an accurate reading, you'll get different readings each time you pull the dipstick too.
With that truck, as long as it's above the add mark, I'm fine.
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