Question about dipstick and topping off oil.

[kontakterr61]

i was wondering, what is the liquid amount that it takes to fill up from the first bottom hole on the dipstick to the second hole above it? (im assuming it might be different for every car, but about how much? i have an acura tsx).

Is the oil always supposed to be covering the upper hole? every month or two, it seems like oil goes down just below the top hole (not the minimum hole) and i feel the need to refill it so oil covers both holes.
Am i being anal? is it necessary to top oil off so it covers both holes?
this is my second time topping it off and i have only 2,500 miles with dino oil where the oil was a little bit below the top hole.....is this normal? (i have about 7,000 miles on odometer).
is my car losing too much oil?

 

[Colt45ws]

I cannot tell you how much is between the two holes as they are just there to show approximate level and dont correlate to specific amounts. Dipsticks are not 100% accurate in the first place.
I have no clue how much oil you are adding each time so I dont know if its excessive. But all engines need to consume some oil or there would be problems. I usually wait until its getting close or at the add mark before adding as I know that for my car a quart will make it correct if not slightly above.

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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i was wondering, what is the liquid amount that it takes to fill up from the first bottom hole on the dipstick to the second hole above it?

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Usually that will be 1/5 of a quart from one hole to the next; for example: my Buick's dipstick has 5 holes drilled into the dipstick. The ADD mark is at 4 quarts, with the 5th hole covered being 5 quarts of oil in the pan.

ADD 1 QT|. . . . .|FULL

This is post number 2000. That's two thousand highly informative, highly educational posts from yours truly,

Merkava_4

 

[Pablo]

Most cars have the answer in the glovebox manual.

 

[pajim17057]

I would say you are being a little bit anal. Thats ok everyones a little anal sometimes. I don't add oil till its a full one quart low.

 

[TallPaul]

I like to top in 1/4 ounce increments. I don't like to go to the bottom of the operating range (as depicted on my dipsticks) because on a 5 qt sump you effectively reduce it to 4 qts or 20% less oil. Surely it will run a bit hotter that way. Actually I like to over fill by about a 1/4 inch and I know that the owner's manual allows that in a sort of way.

 

[TallPaul]

Quote:

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I like to top in 1/4 ounce increments.

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Whoops. Now there is a pretty funny typo. I meant to say 1/4 quart increments.

If I top up in 1/4 ounce increments then I would need to take an extended vacation at a mental instutition.

BTW, topping up more frequently doesn't hurt and gives you more opportunities to play with oil.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Glad you corrected yourself TallPaul, I was beginning to think you're crazy. 1/4 quart however seems pretty reasonable, I typically let it get 1/2 quart low however. I wouldn't let it get a full quart low since like you said, that can be a big % of the oil capacity.