Is it better to keep the oil level full or??????
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Hey,
Ok to my understanding it seems whether or not the engine is cold or hot, being consistent about checking oil if your looking for consumption readings. I assume this goes as well if your just checking it on a general basis. Am I right??? AR
Ok to my understanding it seems whether or not the engine is cold or hot, being consistent about checking oil if your looking for consumption readings. I assume this goes as well if your just checking it on a general basis. Am I right??? AR
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I like to keep the oil level at or near the full mark. Oil is the life blood of your engine. How do you feel after donating about 1/4 of your blood?
Going by instructions in typical owner's manuals, it doesn't appear to make much difference. These comments, from a 1974 Volvo manual, are typical: "The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick. It must never be permitted to go down below the lower mark, but on the other hand, it must not be above the upper mark since oil consumption will be abnormally high...The distance between the dipstick markings corresponds to about 2.1 U.S. quarts."
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/volvo/volvomanual.htm (page 43)
2.1 qts between marks! That's over 50% of many current small engine capacities, but then, many European engines have big sumps. It doesn't seem to make much difference so long as it's between the hash marks, but as pointed out, there's potential advantages to keeping it filled, and almost no advantage to keeping it low. As Primus mentioned, those who drive in events with high cornering loads (sports car track events and the like), NOT keeping oil level high can lead to a seized engine.
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/volvo/volvomanual.htm (page 43)
2.1 qts between marks! That's over 50% of many current small engine capacities, but then, many European engines have big sumps. It doesn't seem to make much difference so long as it's between the hash marks, but as pointed out, there's potential advantages to keeping it filled, and almost no advantage to keeping it low. As Primus mentioned, those who drive in events with high cornering loads (sports car track events and the like), NOT keeping oil level high can lead to a seized engine.
Keep it up to the FULL mark!!! Do not overfill the oil level! Why people do this I will never know.
If I am adding catalyst to a finish I add the proper amounts (exact) based on the measured amount. Any more and any less leads to failure. I haven't had that problem since I follow directions. Follow directions!!!
Daily Drives:
-2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner XtraCab, 2.7 Liter , Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 5w30.
ODO 10500Miles.
-1995 Toyota 4-Runner 3.0 V6, Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 10w30.
ODO 91900 Miles.
http://community.webshots.com/user/amkeer
If I am adding catalyst to a finish I add the proper amounts (exact) based on the measured amount. Any more and any less leads to failure. I haven't had that problem since I follow directions. Follow directions!!!
Daily Drives:
-2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner XtraCab, 2.7 Liter , Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 5w30.
ODO 10500Miles.
-1995 Toyota 4-Runner 3.0 V6, Mobil 1 Synthetic SS 10w30.
ODO 91900 Miles.
http://community.webshots.com/user/amkeer
My Audi seems to always *settle* at about the halfway mark whick is about 1/2 qt under full. It never goes below that but if I top it off, it'll go back down to 1/2 and stay there.
So I just leave it at the halfway point.
Patman
Staff member
Because in many engines it's completely safe, and the more oil you have in there the better, especially if you drive it hard.
There was a recent thread on LS1Tech.com which showed some good pictures of an LS1 f-body oil pan, and how that even with 1.5 quarts extra, you've still got a lot of room before the oil hits the crank. I know a lot of LS1 owners who overfill their engines because they road race and don't want the engine to starve of oil. Others who ran at or slightly below the normal capacity have run into problems in very high g cornering.
So if it's safe to overfill, why not do it? You'd be foolish not to.
Hey,
Patman, I like your point. Just my $.02 here though, I usually don't drive my truck hard nor take corners hard at all. So from now on, I will keep my level at like a smidge above Full. My sump capacity is 4.5qts, which suprised me alittle when I got the truck almost 2 years ago. I would've thought it would have at least a 5qt capacity, apparently not.
From reading this, I figure rounding off to an even 5qts can't hurt it. I don't drive like grandma but I don't drive like maddog showoff either, hehe. Thanks,,,,,AR
Patman,
You have hills, potholes, bumps in the road, etc.. Its not a good idea to overfill the sump! Add to this the fact that this site is viewed by ALOT of people that now will think its OK to overfill the sump.
Stick with the correct level.
You have hills, potholes, bumps in the road, etc.. Its not a good idea to overfill the sump! Add to this the fact that this site is viewed by ALOT of people that now will think its OK to overfill the sump.
Stick with the correct level.
Hey,
Amkeer, I'm not upset or nothing but couple times ago changing my oil, I accidentally overfilled it by 1/2qt. The truck still ran great! Did I bother draining out 1/2 quart, certainly not, but I do think 1.5quarts over in any modern engine is a bit overkill, however if it doesn't hurt it then more power to it. I'm just saying in my own opinion I think if you overfill by 1/4 - 1/2 quart I wouldn't **** a brick over it but I also wouldn't go over 1/2 quart.
Bottom line IMHO, I don't think overfill is a real issue but there is a point of JUST how much you can dump in,,,,AR
BTW, I don't want to nor like trying to start flamage in threads, I simply like saying my own opinon.
Amkeer, I'm not upset or nothing but couple times ago changing my oil, I accidentally overfilled it by 1/2qt. The truck still ran great! Did I bother draining out 1/2 quart, certainly not, but I do think 1.5quarts over in any modern engine is a bit overkill, however if it doesn't hurt it then more power to it. I'm just saying in my own opinion I think if you overfill by 1/4 - 1/2 quart I wouldn't **** a brick over it but I also wouldn't go over 1/2 quart.
Bottom line IMHO, I don't think overfill is a real issue but there is a point of JUST how much you can dump in,,,,AR
BTW, I don't want to nor like trying to start flamage in threads, I simply like saying my own opinon.
I agree Spector, I maticulously go through filling to dipstick with my set exact cold method to ensure not overfilling. I always want the factory set level on my crank too. Consitantly checking oil the same way whether hot or cold method is the key.
I agree with slight overfill buy I dont do it to be safe. I am told that in most cases in the vehicles I drive that 1/8 to 3/16 inch overfill (approximate 1/2 cup on 4 litre/quart oil change will not cause problems in an engine.
If I find my oil overfilled a bit (usually happens at dealership oil change on blue moon I have them do it) I then give the engine a good run, shut it off immediately, immediately check dipstick, if the oil does not have a pasty foamy whitish appearance due to high excessive consentration of tiny air bubbles then the oil I believe oil is okay a bit overfilled. A few larger bubbles is normal on proper fill in my experience. If above high concentration bubbles show I drain some oil out, that is my method and has worked to date. If that oil is filled with the millions bubbles in great concentration then air filled oil wont lubricate proper, air is not much a lubricant. Some may argue it better to be just above add on stick than be overfilled with excessive foaming, I prefer to be at factory spec engineered for whatever vehicle I drive.
Cyprs
I agree with slight overfill buy I dont do it to be safe. I am told that in most cases in the vehicles I drive that 1/8 to 3/16 inch overfill (approximate 1/2 cup on 4 litre/quart oil change will not cause problems in an engine.
If I find my oil overfilled a bit (usually happens at dealership oil change on blue moon I have them do it) I then give the engine a good run, shut it off immediately, immediately check dipstick, if the oil does not have a pasty foamy whitish appearance due to high excessive consentration of tiny air bubbles then the oil I believe oil is okay a bit overfilled. A few larger bubbles is normal on proper fill in my experience. If above high concentration bubbles show I drain some oil out, that is my method and has worked to date. If that oil is filled with the millions bubbles in great concentration then air filled oil wont lubricate proper, air is not much a lubricant. Some may argue it better to be just above add on stick than be overfilled with excessive foaming, I prefer to be at factory spec engineered for whatever vehicle I drive.
Cyprs
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My Audi doesn't do that.
Oil is the lifeline of an engine as Moribundman states, this lifeline is engineered with fluid levels on a dipstick.
Take a 4 quart oil capacity engine to the full mark, the usual dipstick is calibrated for 1 quart fill from add to full mark.
I have to reason that the engineers deem it safe to run engine on "Add" until one adds the 1 quart to obtain the full mark. (that does not mean I would run the engine at 3 quarts, I run at full mark) If so, then I believe that this 1 quart reserve is engineered to compensate for all driving conditions, engine cooling and safe lubrication. I have to ask, why should one play engineer and go against the factory engineers who design these engines and their lubrication needs, I for one am not qualified to challenge them?
If one overfills 1/2 to 1 1/2 quarts and there is no foam and your crank is not being pelted or your seals over pressured, the engine is not sluggish, then whatever works. I agree with Amkeer though, I have to suggest going with engineer's full mark, I think the 1 quart reserve is safely engineered to do the job for all conditions .
I have seen engines go through all kinds of turmoil such as never being plugged in the cold, excessively long OCI, crap driven out of them etc. Thing is the owner will say "Well it lasted 150K" I then say, "With proper care & maintainance it may have gone 300K" To me it all comes down to common sense, my reasoning tells me to go to the engineer's who designed the engine.
I go to maticulous effort to ensure my oil is at full mark & not over, oil heat, length of oil drain time to pan, ground level all are factors along with consistancy. If I had my choice between overfill or underfill of 1/2 Quart from full mark, I pick 1/2 quart under because I would still be in engineer spec and I would have 1/2 quart reserve oil without excessive air bubbles diluting my oil, my preference and belief only.
Cyprs
Take a 4 quart oil capacity engine to the full mark, the usual dipstick is calibrated for 1 quart fill from add to full mark.
I have to reason that the engineers deem it safe to run engine on "Add" until one adds the 1 quart to obtain the full mark. (that does not mean I would run the engine at 3 quarts, I run at full mark) If so, then I believe that this 1 quart reserve is engineered to compensate for all driving conditions, engine cooling and safe lubrication. I have to ask, why should one play engineer and go against the factory engineers who design these engines and their lubrication needs, I for one am not qualified to challenge them?
If one overfills 1/2 to 1 1/2 quarts and there is no foam and your crank is not being pelted or your seals over pressured, the engine is not sluggish, then whatever works. I agree with Amkeer though, I have to suggest going with engineer's full mark, I think the 1 quart reserve is safely engineered to do the job for all conditions .
I have seen engines go through all kinds of turmoil such as never being plugged in the cold, excessively long OCI, crap driven out of them etc. Thing is the owner will say "Well it lasted 150K" I then say, "With proper care & maintainance it may have gone 300K" To me it all comes down to common sense, my reasoning tells me to go to the engineer's who designed the engine.
I go to maticulous effort to ensure my oil is at full mark & not over, oil heat, length of oil drain time to pan, ground level all are factors along with consistancy. If I had my choice between overfill or underfill of 1/2 Quart from full mark, I pick 1/2 quart under because I would still be in engineer spec and I would have 1/2 quart reserve oil without excessive air bubbles diluting my oil, my preference and belief only.
Cyprs
If you want more horsepower, run it low. I've heard of many race teams running their cars/trucks sump lower than full for extra HP.
Answer to your question, I would simply add by that amount which falls below full.
Answer to your question, I would simply add by that amount which falls below full.
Patman
Staff member
But as you're driving down the road, not all of the oil is in the bottom of the pan, it's flowing throughout the engine, so it's not as if putting an extra half quart is going to even come close to hurting the average engine.
As long as you know it's safe to do so, like I know with the LS1, then it's not a problem. I know someone with a 98 Trans Am who has put an extra 1.5 quarts in his engine ever since new, and he's at almost 100k now. He autocrosses and/or road races his car almost every weekend.
So I'm not telling everyone to dump in an extra 1 to 1.5 quarts unless they know it's safe. But certainly a half quart is safe, no car maker is going to set the level so that the slightest bit over is going to hurt, since they know most fast lube places will not be so meticulous about getting the right level. Most probably just throw 5 quarts into everything, no matter what the manual says!
Patman >
Ditto and well said.
Up until about 20 years ago we had oil in cans that were difficult if not impossible to reseal. So people generally liked to add oil in whole quarts. The 1-quart safe zone on the stick probably is a carryover from those days. IIRC there are/were sticks that showed marks for 1 qt, 2 qt, ... (not sure how far that went).
But if we have this much to discuss on dipsticking our oil, what about the transmission? There is a difficult dipsticking task. I like to get it just right and then check it cold after it sat overnight to see where it sits on the stick after the torque converter drains down. That way, I can ballpark that the ATF is not seriously low anytime without the warm it up and run it throught the gears routine. Of course, the proper technique should be employed every now and then for more accuracy.
But if we have this much to discuss on dipsticking our oil, what about the transmission? There is a difficult dipsticking task. I like to get it just right and then check it cold after it sat overnight to see where it sits on the stick after the torque converter drains down. That way, I can ballpark that the ATF is not seriously low anytime without the warm it up and run it throught the gears routine. Of course, the proper technique should be employed every now and then for more accuracy.
Once I refill the transmission I check it hot for a few days post refill but then rarely ever do again unless I see some seepage. With no seepage there really is no way for the fluid to decrease unlike engine oil. Do you also check the rear differential if you have a rear wheel drive every once in a while. I know of no one that does that, just look for seepage
Adding even 1/2 quart on top of a 3 quart engine is not the thing to do .
We worry to no end here about which oil has the best noack , lowest amount of group I ect in an effort to exact all one can from knowledge gained here only to go and purposely overfill an engine for what reason again ?
We worry to no end here about which oil has the best noack , lowest amount of group I ect in an effort to exact all one can from knowledge gained here only to go and purposely overfill an engine for what reason again ?
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