Oil Level
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Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Best advice given was to just change the oil early. 500 miles early is no big loss of resources nor are you wasting good new oil by topping off and draining 500 miles later.
The comment about always keeping the oil level at min or half is puzzling to me. Even if your vehicle doesn't use oil - the manufacturer has decided, for a reason, to have a full mark and that is where my oil always starts at.
x2 on just change it
Oddly on my vehicles after an oil change and putting in the full amount, none of them read exactly at the full mark, usually slightly below. I go by the amount I put in and not the dipstick. Figure anything at the upper end of the safe range is fine.
Best advice given was to just change the oil early. 500 miles early is no big loss of resources nor are you wasting good new oil by topping off and draining 500 miles later.
The comment about always keeping the oil level at min or half is puzzling to me. Even if your vehicle doesn't use oil - the manufacturer has decided, for a reason, to have a full mark and that is where my oil always starts at.
x2 on just change it
Oddly on my vehicles after an oil change and putting in the full amount, none of them read exactly at the full mark, usually slightly below. I go by the amount I put in and not the dipstick. Figure anything at the upper end of the safe range is fine.
When you say "down a quart", do you mean below the MIN mark on the dipstick?
Some of these responses appear to think you mean a quart below the MAX.
If its a quart below the hatchmarks then I would add enough oil to bring it within the hatchmarks.
I don't consider it wasting oil when it is saving your engine from a shortened life from inadequate lubrication.
Some of these responses appear to think you mean a quart below the MAX.
If its a quart below the hatchmarks then I would add enough oil to bring it within the hatchmarks.
I don't consider it wasting oil when it is saving your engine from a shortened life from inadequate lubrication.
If the oil level is in the "SAFE" zone between full & Add, there is no benefit to changing early. All this discussion about oil running hotter is nonsense since the OP describes his type of driving. TOO much over thinking about nothing. Ed
Originally Posted By: Eddie
If the level is between the full & add marks, then there is no need to be concerned, even if you are driving hard. Ed
I understand that an that is true...but the person said he purposely kept the level at min or 1/2 at the most. I just dont see why you don't start at Full.
If the level is between the full & add marks, then there is no need to be concerned, even if you are driving hard. Ed
I understand that an that is true...but the person said he purposely kept the level at min or 1/2 at the most. I just dont see why you don't start at Full.
There are some vehicles when driven/cornered hard don't appreciate being down 1 qt. of oil. In fact, in some cars it's recommended to be up to 1 qt over full prior to driving it hard. While this doesn't apply to the OP if they never corner hard, it could apply to others.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
There are some vehicles when driven/cornered hard don't appreciate being down 1 qt. of oil. In fact, in some cars it's recommended to be up to 1 qt over full prior to driving it hard. While this doesn't apply to the OP if they never corner hard, it could apply to others.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I don't think it is a good practice to encourage ovefilling by a quart any more than it is to encourage underfilling. In most all of the literature I have read, the concensus is overfilling is as bad as underfilling. Why not just keep the oil between MIN-MAX ?
How does the topic of coolant enters into this...it is apples to oranges, right?
Tribofilms?
I think it is better to add a quart of oil to keep it above the MIN level than to be concerned about tribofilms...but that is just me.
Cheers
There are some vehicles when driven/cornered hard don't appreciate being down 1 qt. of oil. In fact, in some cars it's recommended to be up to 1 qt over full prior to driving it hard. While this doesn't apply to the OP if they never corner hard, it could apply to others.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I don't think it is a good practice to encourage ovefilling by a quart any more than it is to encourage underfilling. In most all of the literature I have read, the concensus is overfilling is as bad as underfilling. Why not just keep the oil between MIN-MAX ?
How does the topic of coolant enters into this...it is apples to oranges, right?
Tribofilms?
I think it is better to add a quart of oil to keep it above the MIN level than to be concerned about tribofilms...but that is just me.
Cheers
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: ArcticDriver
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
There are some vehicles when driven/cornered hard don't appreciate being down 1 qt. of oil. In fact, in some cars it's recommended to be up to 1 qt over full prior to driving it hard. While this doesn't apply to the OP if they never corner hard, it could apply to others.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I don't think it is a good practice to encourage ovefilling by a quart any more than it is to encourage underfilling. In most all of the literature I have read, the concensus is overfilling is as bad as underfilling. Why not just keep the oil between MIN-MAX ?
How does the topic of coolant enters into this...it is apples to oranges, right?
Tribofilms?
I think it is better to add a quart of oil to keep it above the MIN level than to be concerned about tribofilms...but that is just me.
Cheers
The overfilling is really only recommended for track use IMHO. We always overfill a L for track use. But that is mainly because high G's can prevent the oil from draining down from the head, which can cause starvation.
Oil is the coolant for the bottom of the engine, so it does have a similar function to coolant.
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
There are some vehicles when driven/cornered hard don't appreciate being down 1 qt. of oil. In fact, in some cars it's recommended to be up to 1 qt over full prior to driving it hard. While this doesn't apply to the OP if they never corner hard, it could apply to others.
While I agree it's preferable not be down 1 qt of oil for 500 miles, it's a stretch to compare that to being down 1 gallon in your coolant, which literally could uncover most of your radiator. My radiator holds approx 1 gallon. I could survive quite fine down 1 qt oil. Running without coolant in the radiator for 500 miles would produce a mess.
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I don't think it is a good practice to encourage ovefilling by a quart any more than it is to encourage underfilling. In most all of the literature I have read, the concensus is overfilling is as bad as underfilling. Why not just keep the oil between MIN-MAX ?
How does the topic of coolant enters into this...it is apples to oranges, right?
Tribofilms?
I think it is better to add a quart of oil to keep it above the MIN level than to be concerned about tribofilms...but that is just me.
Cheers
The overfilling is really only recommended for track use IMHO. We always overfill a L for track use. But that is mainly because high G's can prevent the oil from draining down from the head, which can cause starvation.
Oil is the coolant for the bottom of the engine, so it does have a similar function to coolant.
Originally Posted By: Hub
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Originally Posted By: Hub
I drive a 2000 F150 in SC as I would a Ford Edge, i.e. no loads, no hot rodding,no offroading, etc. Given this driving style, is it a big deal for the engine to be 1 quart low on oil? Will be changing oil/filter in approximately 500 miles so why waste oil if there is no benefit.
Down a quart, I'd either top up or change the oil if it is due or almost due. I wouldn't drive being down a quart of oil. Can the engine handle it? Sure, but it uses oil for cooling the engine as well as lubricating it. In the summer in SC, I'd want all the help I can get with keeping my engine cool.
I drive a 2000 F150 in SC as I would a Ford Edge, i.e. no loads, no hot rodding,no offroading, etc. Given this driving style, is it a big deal for the engine to be 1 quart low on oil? Will be changing oil/filter in approximately 500 miles so why waste oil if there is no benefit.
Down a quart, I'd either top up or change the oil if it is due or almost due. I wouldn't drive being down a quart of oil. Can the engine handle it? Sure, but it uses oil for cooling the engine as well as lubricating it. In the summer in SC, I'd want all the help I can get with keeping my engine cool.
Originally Posted By: steve20
Originally Posted By: Hub
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Where's the problem? Sun is over the yardarm somewhere.
Originally Posted By: Hub
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Where's the problem? Sun is over the yardarm somewhere.
Originally Posted By: TheKracken
Depends, do you know what your consumption rate is? If it is a quart every 1k miles or worse than that then I would add oil incase. If not and it is every few k per quart then dont worry about it.
This.
Depends, do you know what your consumption rate is? If it is a quart every 1k miles or worse than that then I would add oil incase. If not and it is every few k per quart then dont worry about it.
This.
Originally Posted By: mightymousetech
Originally Posted By: steve20
Originally Posted By: Hub
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Where's the problem? Sun is over the yardarm somewhere.
That's why he is mixing it with Mountain Dew right now. He'll cut back on the caffeine after lunch time.
Originally Posted By: steve20
Originally Posted By: Hub
Your last paragraph is great and gives me a perspective on "when" to change oil I had never considered. Soon as I drink another bourbon w/mountain dew, will change the oil. Many thanks!!!
I hope you are kidding, as you posted at about 10 AM
Steve
Where's the problem? Sun is over the yardarm somewhere.
That's why he is mixing it with Mountain Dew right now. He'll cut back on the caffeine after lunch time.
To those who advocate running only at the full mark, kindly explain why manufacturers put a min mark on the dipstick and are happy for you to run anywhere between min and max. No one has suggested running below min.
Anyone else here with a BMW airhead will know that no one runs an airhead at the full mark for the good reason of ensuring enough crankcase air space. BMW even specifically advised not to fill above half way.
Anyone else here with a BMW airhead will know that no one runs an airhead at the full mark for the good reason of ensuring enough crankcase air space. BMW even specifically advised not to fill above half way.
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I thought we hashed that out extensively that such a scenario wouldn't happen?
One possible downside of adding a fresh quart of oil is that it will/could work against the current oil to try and break down the tribofilms you spent 3,000 miles building up, something that you don't want.
I thought we hashed that out extensively that such a scenario wouldn't happen?
The only vehicles of mine that I ever need to add oil to is my '99 Civic. I buy the 5 quart jugs and it takes 3.5 quarts so I have an extra 1.5 quarts left which usually gets added during the 6-7k intervals. If it's low, I just add it, regardless of when the next change is. If I'm taking the time to check the level, what is another minute or so to bring the level up to the correct level.
It's hard not to overthink these things. Personally, I would just keep it somewhere in the middle to upper part of the hash marks (however this applies to your consumption/leak rate) and just change it when it's normally due. Topping off only means a buck or two here and there, typically. I change mine when it's convenient to me and don't worry much +/- 500-1000 miles of my given OCI.
I have a hard time driving a car if I know the oil level is low.
I'm about to go out and add about 1/2 quart of oil to my car to get it back to full, even thought I will most likely be changing the oil in the next week.
As a defense, I AM going to be doing about 600 miles of driving in that week.
I'm about to go out and add about 1/2 quart of oil to my car to get it back to full, even thought I will most likely be changing the oil in the next week.
As a defense, I AM going to be doing about 600 miles of driving in that week.
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