top off oil

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Whats the bitog recomendation for top off oil? If your using say synthetic oil, and your a quart low, do you top off with the same synthetic or just a quart of "any" dino? And as far as viscosity, say you got 5w30 in there, and your topping off the sump, do you use the same viscosity, or pour up all thoes 1/4 full quart bottles you had left over into one quart and dump her in?
 
I prefer to stick with the same exact oil that's already there...and since I am, apparently, a "hoarder", this is easily done with the shelf full of those bargains I scored...

That said, I would try and use the same viscosity, same company, same kind of oil, in that order.

But if you use just any old oil in the same viscosity, you're fine...a 1/2 Qt is what, 10% in most engines? Unless your engine specified something very particular (like some MBs, Audis, BMWs, etc...), it doesn't matter...
 
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Depends how far I am from my OCI, but, if its less then 3000 miles?

Pretty much anything labelled oil. 5w30, 10w-, 30wt, 15w40 even. A little bit isn't a big deal.
 
Originally Posted By: dave1251
Whatever I have handy or what I can by for a few bucks.


For a top off oil, this is all that is needed for sure.
 
Well.....I'll give a wishy washy answer.....DEPENDS
If you are on a trip......and you check your oil....better to have the wrong oil vs being too low.
ALL major oils are compatible for top-off. Synthetic/conventional
Sure....if you can top off with the SAME as you have in there already...that is great...but if you have to put something else in.....in a pinch.....don't sweat it.......as I said....better less than ideal than being too low.
Pretty much ANY name brand is going to be fine.....try to stay with the viscosity called for in your owner's manual, unless you have done some exotic mod to your engine.
If they don't have the exact viscosity that you have......try to come as close as you can......and sleep well that night.
 
There's always a litre or so of whatever's in whatever sump in the Garage for top-off to be the same.

Nissan drops 1/2qt virtually overnight at 8,000km into a 10,000km OCI, so in theory doesn't need topping off.

When I worked in a service station, I had access to all of the old ounces at the bottom of the oil bottle left in the trash...I topped off with that for ages.

When I think "rationally", for the last few thousand km of a change, I'd probably go CF/SJ SAE 30...400ml in 7-1/2 litres, for 2,000km won't change much

Edit...maybe that's the difference between Oz and US viscosities too...I've never even contemplated "being in a pinch" with regard a top-off. Cars just don't use that much oil.
 
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