My Silverado uses 1/2 quart approximately every 3000 mi. I fill up when the dipstick indicates 1/2 quart down. How low do you let it go?
How far down before adding oil?
- Thread starter CapitalTruck
- Start date
- Status
I'd usually top up when I was down 1/2 qt. of oil in a vehicle that used oil or was leaking at the time.
I'll add 4-8 oz at a time....usually that only occurs once per oil change. It's got a "full" mark for a reason. Then again, it has an "add" mark as well. Pick your poison.
About halfway down the dipstick, though I haven't had an OCI long enough on my personal vehicle to see it go there. Thats just my general reference point. I'll usually just put the cheapest/oldest oil I have in the stash to top it off and change the oil according to the OCI.
I wait until the add line/message/whatever.
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I wait until the add line/message/whatever.
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
This.
I know I need 1 qt every 1500 miles or so. If I am near the "add" line, I will go ahead and add a full qt.
When I first got the truck, I would check every tank, but now I check every 2-3 tanks (~500 miles).
I wait until the add line/message/whatever.
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
This.
I know I need 1 qt every 1500 miles or so. If I am near the "add" line, I will go ahead and add a full qt.
When I first got the truck, I would check every tank, but now I check every 2-3 tanks (~500 miles).
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I wait until the add line/message/whatever.
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
If that were true....the new cars would be delivered with oil levels half a quart low. And any oil change operation would deliver your car with the level 1/2 quart down, since it would be preferable to them.
The engine/car designer is likely trying to weed out human errors by those who would add a full quart when not needed. For me, I'll follow the designer's lead and keep my engine oil full or nearly full. I can handle it. They put "FULL" on the dipstick for a reason. Being down a quart (or anywhere close to it) is an abnormal condition imo. I prefer optimum cooling, performance, and protection from my engine at all times, especially when challenged in hot summer months.
I wait until the add line/message/whatever.
The middle of the dipstick doesn't say "add a half quart."
If that were true....the new cars would be delivered with oil levels half a quart low. And any oil change operation would deliver your car with the level 1/2 quart down, since it would be preferable to them.
The engine/car designer is likely trying to weed out human errors by those who would add a full quart when not needed. For me, I'll follow the designer's lead and keep my engine oil full or nearly full. I can handle it. They put "FULL" on the dipstick for a reason. Being down a quart (or anywhere close to it) is an abnormal condition imo. I prefer optimum cooling, performance, and protection from my engine at all times, especially when challenged in hot summer months.
I tend to agree 69gtx. I would rather it be close to full all the time rather than be a half quart to a full quart low a decent amount of the time. But I do see what roofless is stating to a degree too. There are many cars and trucks that specify the low mark as the "add" mark. So, that isn't all together wrong either I would guess??
Only question I have is about operating psi and any related effects from being a bit lower?? Would this cause less psi and therefore less oil making it to places as much as it should?? I am not saying this is the case. I just wonder if that's a effect of being 1/2-1 quart low. May well be that it doesn't have an appreciable effect on the operating psi. More technical knowledge by some other members here might provide some good insights into this.
Only question I have is about operating psi and any related effects from being a bit lower?? Would this cause less psi and therefore less oil making it to places as much as it should?? I am not saying this is the case. I just wonder if that's a effect of being 1/2-1 quart low. May well be that it doesn't have an appreciable effect on the operating psi. More technical knowledge by some other members here might provide some good insights into this.
If I have 4 out of 5 holes covered with oil, I'll add what's necessary to get all 5 holes covered.
Any appreciable distance below full, unless I'm going to change the oil soon. I've always run old cars which use some, though I've never really measured how much.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Any appreciable distance below full, unless I'm going to change the oil soon. I've always run old cars which use some, though I've never really measured how much.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Owners manual (usually) says add 1 qt when at add mark. It does not say add 1/2 qt when 1/2 way down. Oil pans are not perfectly shaped, so being 1/2 way down does not always mean add 1/2 a qt. It just means that it is 1/2 way between full and add. Sure with time you can figure it out, but why fuss with it?
People really are strange (and that is why we are here
)
Remember, most of the driving population never even checks their oil and vehicles get around just fine for the most part.
Any appreciable distance below full, unless I'm going to change the oil soon. I've always run old cars which use some, though I've never really measured how much.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Owners manual (usually) says add 1 qt when at add mark. It does not say add 1/2 qt when 1/2 way down. Oil pans are not perfectly shaped, so being 1/2 way down does not always mean add 1/2 a qt. It just means that it is 1/2 way between full and add. Sure with time you can figure it out, but why fuss with it?
People really are strange (and that is why we are here
Remember, most of the driving population never even checks their oil and vehicles get around just fine for the most part.
I won't add unless it needs at least a 1/4 quart
Originally Posted By: bbhero
Only question I have is about operating psi and any related effects from being a bit lower?? Would this cause less psi and therefore less oil making it to places as much as it should?? I am not saying this is the case. I just wonder if that's a effect of being 1/2-1 quart low.
Don't think there'll be any such effect UNLESS you corner/brake/accelerate sharply while high revs are pumping a lot of the oil into the top-end, and the oil pump pickup surfaces. Then you'll have some air in the oilways temporarily which could be damaging. I'd guess the low level is chosen to minimise this possibility.
As long as the sump oil level stays above the pump intake, the only effect is to reduce the total volume of oil, which gives you less safety margin (for the above surge, leaks or a sudden increase in consumption due, for example, to sticky rings) and will increase the contaminant and heat loading a bit.
Only question I have is about operating psi and any related effects from being a bit lower?? Would this cause less psi and therefore less oil making it to places as much as it should?? I am not saying this is the case. I just wonder if that's a effect of being 1/2-1 quart low.
Don't think there'll be any such effect UNLESS you corner/brake/accelerate sharply while high revs are pumping a lot of the oil into the top-end, and the oil pump pickup surfaces. Then you'll have some air in the oilways temporarily which could be damaging. I'd guess the low level is chosen to minimise this possibility.
As long as the sump oil level stays above the pump intake, the only effect is to reduce the total volume of oil, which gives you less safety margin (for the above surge, leaks or a sudden increase in consumption due, for example, to sticky rings) and will increase the contaminant and heat loading a bit.
Originally Posted By: blupupher
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Any appreciable distance below full, unless I'm going to change the oil soon. I've always run old cars which use some, though I've never really measured how much.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Owners manual (usually) says add 1 qt when at add mark. It does not say add 1/2 qt when 1/2 way down. Oil pans are not perfectly shaped, so being 1/2 way down does not always mean add 1/2 a qt. It just means that it is 1/2 way between full and add. Sure with time you can figure it out, but why fuss with it?
People really are strange (and that is why we are here
)
Remember, most of the driving population never even checks their oil and vehicles get around just fine for the most part.
Think this is the first owners manual I've had. Its in Chinese, and the pages are stuck together because it got wet, but in any case I would'nt feel obliged to follow any such quaint quart (or even proper unit) advice it might contain.
As you point out, such advice is written for...er...strange people who don't check their oil.
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Any appreciable distance below full, unless I'm going to change the oil soon. I've always run old cars which use some, though I've never really measured how much.
Any other procedure seems to require me to check it, see that its below full, have some oil handy, and not put it in ???
People are strange.
Owners manual (usually) says add 1 qt when at add mark. It does not say add 1/2 qt when 1/2 way down. Oil pans are not perfectly shaped, so being 1/2 way down does not always mean add 1/2 a qt. It just means that it is 1/2 way between full and add. Sure with time you can figure it out, but why fuss with it?
People really are strange (and that is why we are here
Remember, most of the driving population never even checks their oil and vehicles get around just fine for the most part.
Think this is the first owners manual I've had. Its in Chinese, and the pages are stuck together because it got wet, but in any case I would'nt feel obliged to follow any such quaint quart (or even proper unit) advice it might contain.
As you point out, such advice is written for...er...strange people who don't check their oil.
My engine consistently loses about a quart every ~20000 miles. Since I know where it's headed I put in oil as soon as possible so that the oil is used up as much as possible. I don't like the idea of throwing in new oil a month before I do an oil change just to get the level where it should be, feels like I'm wasting good oil.
Back when I bought a 1998 full sized chevy Truck, salesman said they loosened the top ends for better fuel mileage, I didn't think much of it till discovering it was burning a quart of oil every 3,000 miles(Aholes). However I bought a 2007 Colorado small truck and at 140,000 miles it doesn't use at all.
- Status
