Oil level is going up...

[SteveD2]

I have a Cherokee with the 4.0, almost 200,000 miles. I've only owned it for about 2500 miles. Right now it's full of Chevron Supreme 10w40 with a quart of havoline synthetic. After about 1500 miles, it lost about 1/4 quart of oil. There is a small drip of oil coming out somewhere...not sure where exactly.

So...being the oil freak I am, I added more oil even though it was only about 1/4 quart low. I accidently added a little too much, about 1/8" above the full mark on the dip stick. I didn't worry about it, because I thought it would all drip out within 1000 miles or so.

I drove about 400 miles of short trips with the oil like this, the level didn't seem to move at all. This weekend I went on a 300 mile trip, and now the oil is a good 1/4" above the full mark.

WHY?! I understand if fuel gets into the oil it can do that, but I'm getting GREAT gas mileage, and shouldn't that burn off in a 300 mile trip?

 

[T-Keith]

There could be several reasons for an increase in oil level. Antifreeze or gas could be getting in the oil.

More than likely though it's just a difference in checking procdure. The temp of the engine, amount of time sitting, and how far you push in the dipstick(believe it or not, it's common) can all have an effect on oil level.

-T

 

[SteveD2]

I allways check in in the morning after it's sat overnight. If it was antifreeze, the oil should be turning milky, right?

 

[jetfishn]

I found on my vehicles that I cannot check in the driveway since its not level, have to move vehicle out to street to level ground before checking, makes big difference in oil level doing so, shows about a pint difference on the stick with either vehicle.

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

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Originally posted by jetfishn:
I found on my vehicles that I cannot check in the driveway since its not level, have to move vehicle out to street to level ground before checking, makes big difference in oil level doing so, shows about a pint difference on the stick with either vehicle.

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I allways check it in the same exact spot, after it's been sitting overnight...

 

[slalom44]

It's possible that the last time you checked it, the anti-drainback valve in your oil filter didn't hold the oil, therefore drained back into the oilpan. The previous times, more of the oil was retained by the filter & galleries.

If you're checking the engine cold, expect to see some variability. It's not a big deal - a dipstick is hardly a precision measuring instrument.

I'm from the old school that was taught that you should check your oil with each fuel fillup. Since you have to drive to the gas station, the engine is always warm and turned off for only about a minute. This method is relatively consistent.

 

[Eddie]

Hot oil does expand and on my vehicle it will be about 3/8 inch higher when hot.