Adding motor oil to engine

My accord with 130k is using between 1/4-1/2 quart of oil a month.
I was told by many that engines with this age typically do require a
top-off each month of motor oil. Is there some type of gadget that you
can attach to the top of the oil bottle to make measuring a bit
easier? Often I have to add a little oil, then run the engine a bit
and then check the dipstick again and repeat to get the oil level to a
desired level again. Just want to save some time

 

Why would you have to run the engine a bit to check the oil? That's about
the worst thing to do when trying to get an accurate reading on the
dipstick!

 

usually the space on the dipstick between "add" and "full" represents one
quart. So what I do is estimate. If the dipstick says it is 4/10th quarts
low, and 1/10th of a quart equals 3.2 oz (a full quart is 32 oz.), I take
0.4 times 3.2 oz, and get 12.8 oz. which I round off to 13 oz. On the side
of the quart there is a scale in ounces. So I take 32 minus 13 and get 19.
So when the I think I have hit about 19 oz, I stop and check the oil quart.
If you are off a little bit, it doesn't matter. Just don't go below the
"add" line.

 

There's nothing wrong with the reply below, but IMHO, you don't need to
add oil until you are one full Qt low. So I just wait until I get to
the "add" line, then add 1qt. Now, if I was planning a long trip and I
wanted to start off "full", then I would do the estimate thing described
below, I just wouldn't do this say every saturday rain or shine. -PapaRick

---------------------------------------------------------------

--
PapaRick /(Home) <or> /(Work)
1972 MGB (Blue/Black top), 1.8L inline 4-cyl engine
1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International (w/3.1L engine)
1993 Bronco 351EFI E4OD/BW1356 D44-Ford8.8/open 2"-lift 35"-tires
1996 Jaguar XJ6, w/4.0L 6cyl inline, ABS/Trac_Control, 3.54 gears

 

wait 2 mos, add a whole quart

 

You don't need to run the engine - IMO the spec for checking hot after
allowing a few minutes for drainback is just a convenience for that...
checking while still hot. You'll get about the same reading on the
dipstick if you check cold, i.e. with full drainback, which is more
convenient for the DIYer.

You don't have to be that accurate - when I see the level has gone below
1/2 way between the max & min marks, I add 1/2 quart - easily seen from the
marks on the side of the bottle. If you go on a long trip shove a bottle
of oil in the trunk.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

If you've done it more than about 3 times, you should have a pretty good
idea how much oil to add.
Why do you run the engine?

 

Some times, the gas station will have those disposable paper funnels. I
usually grab a few for future use.

Pars

 

The dip stick's markings, "Add" & "Full" give you enough margin to
allow the 1/4 qrt. to be enough. Even if the level is not to the
"Full" mark, you're better off if it's not more than full.
The Amsoil container I use has a strip that lets you see how much of
the bottle is left after a top-up.

 

You are very likely to ruin your engine doing that.

Overfilling an engine is the worst thing you should do and you 'are'
overfilling it.

The oil should be checked cold in the morning before you drive it. When
it gets down to the 'add' mark, you then put in a full quart. It does
not need oil in between. If it did, the oil companies would sell the
oil in a container with a window like 2 stroke oil is sold.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

Sanjay Punjab wrote in rec.autos.misc

The proper way to check oil is to do it when the engine has been
shut off for several minutes, at a minimum. 20 or thirty minutes
is better. This ensures that all the oil has run back into the
pan. Running the engine and then checking it moves the oil up into
the various engine parts, and the oil level will look lower than
it really is. Adding oil at this point will cause you to overfill
the engine, which can lead to excess oil consumption, and possibly
blown seals.
Also, the add mark on the dipstick indicates that the oil is one
quart low, depending upon the shape of the oil pan, the distance
between the marks may not be linear. Ergo, the half way point may
or may not indicate 1/2 quart. Do not add oil until the level is
at the add mark. And check it only after the engine has been
shut off for several minutes.
The engine does not need to be warm to check the oil either. You
can go out in the morning and check it before you go to work.


--
Dick #1349
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
~Benjamin Franklin

Home Page: dickcr.iwarp.com
email:

 

ok, thanks for this correction. I just assumed the dipstick was
proportional. Although for my car, it does appear pretty proportional as I
sometimes verify the level a while after I have refilled it with less than a
quart. I do not like waiting until it is at the "add" line, since I may
forget to add it then. I'd rather add it beforehand to avoid the possibility
of going below the "add" line.

 

Julie P. wrote in rec.autos.tech

Checking and adding oil the way you do is a sure fire way to overfill
the car. It is best to set up a schedule, and check all fluids at
the same time. Set aside one day a week, perhaps Saturday or Sunday
morning. Spend about 5 or 10 minutes of quality time under the hood.
If you go on a trip, then whenever you stop for gas, check the oil after
you fill the tank.
One othe thing, you should only check the fluid in an automatic with
the engine warm and running, so it is the only fluid that you will
have to do anything special to check.

--
Dick #1349
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
~Benjamin Franklin

Home Page: dickcr.iwarp.com
email:

 

Huh?
My misc. bottles of Havoline, valvoline, Chevron Supreme, Mobil 1 and
Albertsons (I was desperate one morning out on the road) ALL have the
"window" and ALL are 4 stroke oils!

 

Going a bit below the "add" line doesn't hurt anything. Its better than
over-filling and causing the oil to get aereated by the crankshaft.

Its not an exact measurement or fill requirement anyway. You're making
it harder than it needs to be.

 

Really, with the measurements on the window too?

I am in Canada, I guess the packaging is different or I have never
noticed. I have never seen any of the brands you are talking about
either.

Even the 4L jugs I get don't have a window and 'they' could actually use
it!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

Don't waste your time adding oil regularly. Do what I do all the time,
adding a quart when the oil light lit during cornering.

 

What, did some car salesman teach you that little 'trick' or something.
He only wants to sell you a new car when you blow the motor and you
'will' blow the motor driving like that.

If you are running that close to the pump sucking air (that is what the
red light means) the second the red light comes on on a flat because you
haven't taken any turns lately, the engine will be dead.

When that red engine light comes on, you must shut down the engine. If
you continue even a mile, your engine will be blown.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

Troll...

 

Hmm, reminds me of when I had my old Beetle - even with the oil at the max
mark, it was possible to get around a corner fast enough to starve the oil
pump.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??