where do you like your oil level?

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Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
The motor in my Silverado likes to run with the oil level at about 1/4 notch down from the full mark for some reason. I can top it off and it will go right back to the same place. So that is where I leave it.


How does your Silverado indicate it likes it?
 
You want the most oil in there so any contaminants have the max dilution possible. Sure the only real requirement is that the oil pump pickup not suck any air.

Diesel engines take a lot more oil than a gas and I assume they just have a large pan to greatly dilute contaminants. My 5.7L gas Suburban takes 5 QTs, 5.9L Cummins takes 3 gallons. I doubt the oil flow path has that much more en-route oil (oil not in the pan) than my gas engine.
 
On the daily drivers as long as it's above add, I don't worry about it... For the toys that get run hard, not lower than mid way between add and full...

Because of the front sump pan, my 428 Cobra Jet Fairlane will drop oil pressure on hard acceleration if it isn't nearly full... I've never seen the gauge flinch on the Marauder at WOT and it pulls quite a bit harder...
 
Focus: Top of the dipstick. It takes 4.5 quarts according to the owner's manual - 5 quarts (found this out by mistake) brings it right to the top of the dipstick.

Jeep: When it leaks down to the bottom of "full" I put a quart in and it gets it almost to the top of "full"
 
Manual says 4.25 qts. I put in 5 and it's slightly past the full mark. I add about 1/4 qt when it dips below the full line.
 
I shoot to keep mine right at the full line. I generally won't bother topping off unless it's down to 1/2 way, unless I'm planning to do something where I'm running the Jeep unusually hard, then I'll make sure it's topped off right to the full line.
 
Originally Posted By: beast3300
For me: No lower than halfway on the crosshatch on anything. I like to keep at the top of the crosshatch or a hair under that.


^^^^What he said^^^^
 
Originally Posted By: DavidZ28
Originally Posted By: beast3300
For me: No lower than halfway on the crosshatch on anything. I like to keep at the top of the crosshatch or a hair under that.


^^^^What he said^^^^



Amazing.....somebody agreed/thinks like me. That's scary, ROFL.
 
For an oil change, right on full, daily driving, no more than 1/2 way down the dipstick. At least on my 2003 Sable.

It all depends on what you feel your car needs though.

For example, on a car with a lot of city driving, i would let it drop down a bit more, since there will be time to top it off before it gets any lower.

On a car that goes on the interstate a lot, halfway down is a good spot, top it off there so it does not run out on the interstate, and at high speeds.

I drive a balance between the two, so 1/2 way up my dipstick (1/2 quart) is about right for me. The sable leaks 1/2 a quart through its drain plug (i have to put a new pan on, found this out after i changed the oil, the leak not the pan) since it has a threaded end and a rubber seal on it, so i have to just remember to add 1/2 a quart before it seals properly. Next change that is being fixed.
 
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