Stupid oil level question
09-28-2010, 09:35 AM
#11
Registered User
When checking the oil level it is always a good idea to pull the dipstick out and clean in and reinsert it again. When I do this I find the level is the same on both sides.
09-28-2010, 09:39 AM
#12
The engine sits at an angle, and so does the dipstick, so it's not unusual for the two sides to be about 1 "x" different. Take the higher reading -- it's better to be slightly less than full than to overfill.
09-28-2010, 09:39 AM
#13
I would wait until the next oil change...
Kind of off topic, but I notice how there's a certain degree of paranoia around here when it comes to maintenance on this car. I bet you that a few of you worry if the oil is 1/16 low on the stick, but will feel fine if your beater civic was 1/2 low. And to make it better, the s2000 will get a scuffed bore before that civic even shows a sign of skipping a beat.
I simply follow what's recommended, learn what I don't know, and take a normal attitude towards it without losing much sleep.
Kind of off topic, but I notice how there's a certain degree of paranoia around here when it comes to maintenance on this car. I bet you that a few of you worry if the oil is 1/16 low on the stick, but will feel fine if your beater civic was 1/2 low. And to make it better, the s2000 will get a scuffed bore before that civic even shows a sign of skipping a beat.
I simply follow what's recommended, learn what I don't know, and take a normal attitude towards it without losing much sleep.
09-28-2010, 09:57 AM
#14
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thanks for all the help guys and i understand the problems with places like valvoline and iv heard many horror stories alo. the only reason i go there is that a good friend of mine works there and he is one of the few that i would trust with changing my oil because we have worked on may cars together over the years. iv also noticed that the dipstick is uneven and i do also clean the dipstick and reinsert it for a correct reading while the car is on a flat surface
thanks for all the helpful comments guys
thanks for all the helpful comments guys
09-28-2010, 10:03 AM
#15
I always clean the dipstick. On one occasion i cleaned it, noticed it said low marker on one side and about 1/2 a quart below low on the other. cleaned it, put it back in, same thing... cleaned it, put it back in... same thing.
Added 1/2 a quart and then it read midway between low and high. so... meh.
Added 1/2 a quart and then it read midway between low and high. so... meh.
09-28-2010, 10:59 AM
#18
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Originally Posted by slalom44,Sep 28 2010, 12:40 PM
Elvir asked a simple question. The sarcasm isn't necessary. We've lost some great members at this site due to rude behavior.
Elvir - I should mention that in the past there have been several members that have had bad experiences at quick-change oil places. Many of us do all of our own maintenance to prevent others from doing damage to our babies. I've read of many instances of drain plugs falling off (not tightened), stripped drain plugs, stripped oilpan threads for the drain plug and old oil filter gaskets left on the block, causing a mess and engine failures. These stories show up on threads here and elsewhere that scare us away from allowing anyone from touching our vehicles. It happened to my wife (back when I first met her years ago). You trust these guys more than most of us.
Elvir - I should mention that in the past there have been several members that have had bad experiences at quick-change oil places. Many of us do all of our own maintenance to prevent others from doing damage to our babies. I've read of many instances of drain plugs falling off (not tightened), stripped drain plugs, stripped oilpan threads for the drain plug and old oil filter gaskets left on the block, causing a mess and engine failures. These stories show up on threads here and elsewhere that scare us away from allowing anyone from touching our vehicles. It happened to my wife (back when I first met her years ago). You trust these guys more than most of us.
The dipstick is a range you should be in, not an absolute. You want to be above the low mark, and below the full mark. Anything in the middle is fine, and imo high side or low side it doesn't matter, the actual difference is so small.
09-28-2010, 11:42 AM
#19
^ considering you have an ap2, i'm going to go ahead and tell you ap1 guys want to be on the high side, not the low side. The amount of oil this engine can burn is astonishing lol.
09-28-2010, 12:09 PM
#20
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There is nothing wrong with taking your car to your friend to have him change the oil for you, but you might want to bring him the oil filter from the Honda dealership. Sometimes at quick lube places they just slap on the filter for a Civic or some other inadequate filter.