What do you consider 'low' and when do you add?

[wemay]

Do you wait for the level to reach or get near the 'low' mark before you add oil?

 

[pb]

take it all into consideration as to your OCI. if you're changing soon and it's low, don't bother. if it's low and you're going another 3k miles then top-off.

 

[old1]

Personally, I like to keep my cars etc. full to the full mark, if not a tiny bit above. If it uses any, I will fill it when it is even 1/4 quart low.

 

[camrydriver111]

This is an excellent question. I usually will add some oil when it gets about mid-way between the lines. In my car that is 1/2 quart oil.

 

[FutureDoc]

I add when it is about 1/3 from the low point depending where the OCI is looming. If it is 500-1000 miles, I may wait, but if it still a ways away, then I top it off.

 

[demarpaint]

When I had vehicles that used or leaked a bit of oil I'd add when they were down about 1/2 a qt many times I added a pint to top up.

 

[elkid]

In addition to pb reply, I top off when its easy to measure. In my Integra the halfway is 1/4 of a quart. In the explorer the halfway is half a quart. So I usually wait until the halfway mark.

 

[RooflessVW]

I wait until it's at the bottom mark. Most of my cars have 8 or 9 quart sumps, so one quart low hardly matters.

On my old mini I topped it up at every fuel stop because, well, it was my transmission oil too.

 

[69GTX]

6 quart sumps and I add when its 1/4 quart low or 1/2 pint (8 oz).

It's designed to be full. I don't mind adding an extra 50c oil just before the next Oil Change to keep it topped off.

 

[Bgallagher]

I check my oil monthly and if it is low I fill to the full mark or a hair over. I don't wait for a certain level before I top it off.

 

[CT8]

Between the low and full marks is the safe area.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: pb
take it all into consideration as to your OCI. if you're changing soon and it's low, don't bother. if it's low and you're going another 3k miles then top-off.

Agree. But I add: or if you go on a long trip of 500-1000 miles or longer then top off to full line.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I wait until it's at the bottom mark. Most of my cars have 8 or 9 quart sumps, so one quart low hardly matters.

On my old mini I topped it up at every fuel stop because, well, it was my transmission oil too.

Check your min/max level, in some cars the min/max level is about 1.5-2 quarts.

 

[Kuato]

Halfway to "Add". The F150 uses less than that in 10k, but have always had to keep an eye on the Wrangler.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

My Nissan doesn't require any add. AS The wife's FB subaru requires top off oil I usually add when its 500ml down and bring it up to about 250ml down or full if she going on a 2000KM trip. I Used to wait till it was 1/2 down and add to 1/4 down with the EJ as they seemed to eat oil faster when full up. I only top off with M1 EP 20 now, I used to top off with any 5w30.

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

I keep it at the full mark. With both of the vehicles I think I finally used a full quart of top off oil. Most would not top off the amount I do but I'm OCD. lol

 

[wemay]

I usually do it when roughly around half way between FULL and ADD.

 

[Olas]

I consider anything below full to be low. I check fluids weekly and top off if necessary

 

[Kestas]

If I have a car that uses oil, I'll manage it so it's a quart low come oil change time.

Fortunately, none of my present cars use oil that requires top-off.

 

[UltrafanUK]

The good book says check the oil everytime you fuel up, BUT my book says every Sunday is an acceptable alternate if you don't have an oil consumption issue.

If the oil is below the max line (Most modern engines will have drained from top end to sump after 5 mins), then TOP IT UP. The best oil additive is top up oil of the same type, so carry your own if it's a rare one. Topping the oil up helps keep the detergents active.

Running out of oil is real bad news, which is another good reason the chase the full mark.