Oil level gone under minimum level?

pog it · 31-01-2011 1:27pm #1

Hey, have a quick question , almost dreading the answer! I checked my oil level back in september and it was a good bit over the minimum level. I left it go then until last week and to my horror it has gone down to under the minimum level. It's not at the bottom or anything, kinda mid way between the end of the dip stick and the minimum level!

I'm getting it serviced this week and just before I go in with it I was wondering if this could have done my car any damage? It must have gone down so quickly with the bad weather..

Mr Benevolent · 31-01-2011 1:29pm

pog it wrote: »

Hey, have a quick question , almost dreading the answer! I checked my oil level back in september and it was a good bit over the minimum level. I left it go then until last week and to my horror it has gone down to under the minimum level. It's not at the bottom or anything, kinda mid way between the end of the dip stick and the minimum level!

I'm getting it serviced this week and just before I go in with it I was wondering if this could have done my car any damage? It must have gone down so quickly with the bad weather..

What car is it? Plenty of cars burn oil, the 1.4 Golf, Toyota etc.

Anan1 · 31-01-2011 1:33pm

I take it the oil pressure warning light never came on? How did the oil look? I think it'll be fine.

bladespin · 31-01-2011 1:35pm

Doubt there'd be any harm done, make sure to top it up though (safe side)m it'll be changed in the service anyway, might be worth mentioning to the mechanic.

pog it · 31-01-2011 1:38pm

It's a 1.3 honda jazz. I've never let it go under the min level before and nope, no warning sign came on.. that I noticed anyway!

Reassured by your posts now though have to say!

si_guru · 31-01-2011 1:40pm

If no oil light came on then it will be fine - nothing at all to worry about.

corktina · 31-01-2011 1:55pm

pog it wrote: »

It's a 1.3 honda jazz. I've never let it go under the min level before and nope, no warning sign came on.. that I noticed anyway!

Reassured by your posts now though have to say!

you let it go for 4 months without checking it?:eek:

31-01-2011 2:13pm

Oil gets a bit below the minimum mark before the oil light comes on, going forward check it regularly and maintain the level above minimum.

mickdw · 31-01-2011 2:29pm

You checked it in september and it was a little low. This is now end of Jan and you wonder how it went down so quickly. Thats 4 to 5 months ago!

pog it · 31-01-2011 3:25pm

mickdw wrote: »

You checked it in september and it was a little low. This is now end of Jan and you wonder how it went down so quickly. Thats 4 to 5 months ago!

Nope. You'll have to reread my message Mickdw. I said it was a "good bit" above min level in September- hence my false sense of security about it.
Also, naturally, didn't drive it much in late Dec/early Jan.

omb0wyn5ehpij9 · 31-01-2011 3:30pm

Just for further reference, if you check your oil level when the car is cold and hasn't been started in a while, the oil level will be higher than if you have just been driving the car. The reason for this is when the car hasn't been driven, all the oil is just sitting in the sump. However, when the car has been driven, the oil has been pumped around the engine.
The best way to check your oil level is to run the car for about 30 seconds before checking the level, that way, the oil will have been pumped around the engine and you will get a more accurate view of how much oil is in the car

31-01-2011 3:33pm

BDJW wrote: »

The best way to check your oil level is to run the car for about 30 seconds before checking the level, that way, the oil will have been pumped around the engine and you will get a more accurate view of how much oil is in the car

Doubt that's correct to be honest, the dip stick measures what's in the sump. So best to check the oil level when engine is cool.

biko · 31-01-2011 3:36pm

If there is still some oil showing on the stick and the light never came on I'd just top up and not worry about it.
Might as well check your other fluids now that you got bonnet open.

omb0wyn5ehpij9 · 31-01-2011 3:39pm

RoverJames wrote: »

Doubt that's correct to be honest, the dip stick measures what's in the sump. So best to check the oil level when engine is cool.

It's been the way i've been shown by 3 mechanic friends of mine, and they don't know each other so it's not like they are copying each other!

31-01-2011 3:42pm

BDJW wrote: »

It's been the way i've been shown by 3 mechanic friends of mine, and they don't know each other so it's not like they are copying each other!

I still doubt it's correct

Tea drinker · 31-01-2011 3:52pm

BDJW wrote: »

It's been the way i've been shown by 3 mechanic friends of mine, and they don't know each other so it's not like they are copying each other!

I've only heard check when cold or at least after standing. Manufacturers would specify if the car needed to be ran first. Makes no sense, start the car, run it for 30 seconds and find there was no oil in sump

O.A.P · 31-01-2011 3:54pm

RoverJames wrote: »

I still doubt it's correct

I'm with you on this RoverJames, I'm not a mechanic but have looked after my own cars for over twenty years and have always cheaked the oil level when the engine is cold.

omb0wyn5ehpij9 · 31-01-2011 4:05pm

BDJW wrote: »

Just for further reference, if you check your oil level when the car is cold and hasn't been started in a while, the oil level will be higher than if you have just been driving the car. The reason for this is when the car hasn't been driven, all the oil is just sitting in the sump. However, when the car has been driven, the oil has been pumped around the engine.
The best way to check your oil level is to run the car for about 30 seconds before checking the level, that way, the oil will have been pumped around the engine and you will get a more accurate view of how much oil is in the car

Just to be clear lads, I check the oil in my car when it is cold. When I said, let the car idle for 30 seconds, this is when the car is cold. Not when the car is hot after a drive.

corktina · 31-01-2011 4:32pm

you should check it when cold and before you start it.If you run it for 30 seconds and then top it up to the max mark, you will be overfilling it which isnt recomended.

mickdw · 31-01-2011 5:07pm

Yes more likely to overfill if you run for 30 seconds and this can be more damaging than marginally under filling by checking when not run (if this was the wrong way).
I always let the oil run down after turning off car before checking.

but43r · 31-01-2011 5:21pm

mickdw wrote: »

Yes more likely to overfill if you run for 30 seconds and this can be more damaging than marginally under filling by checking when not run (if this was the wrong way).
I always let the oil run down after turning off car before checking.

How it can be more damaging??? The only problem with overfilling is that the excess oil will be spat out through the exhaust. It might damage the cat but don't think does any harm to the engine. Or am I wrong?

31-01-2011 5:26pm

but43r wrote: »

Or am I wrong?

You're wrong

Very much so.

foam

but43r · 31-01-2011 5:29pm

RoverJames wrote: »

You're wrong Very much so.

foam

Looks like it. Just googled it and came across this article
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/what-risk-does-one-run-overfilling-engine-engine-oil-156177/
Than again they are talking about overfilling by quite a lot... Anyway, not an expert just something that I heard before. Either way the best way is having the right amount of oil

Nonoperational · 31-01-2011 5:52pm

I've always checked my oil about 10 mins after a drive. That's what it said in my Alfas owners manual and Alfas are picky about oil!

techie · 31-01-2011 6:47pm

gpf101 wrote: »

I've always checked my oil about 10 mins after a drive. That's what it said in my Alfas owners manual and Alfas are picky about oil!

I too used to have an Alfa and you can do this once your engine is using Fully synthetic oil which has the viscosity of water so in 10 minutes it would have already drained back down to the sump again so would then give an accurate reading.

In general though a car should be cold and obviously on a flat surface when you check the oil, and in general from max to min mark in most makes is 1l of oil.

A-Trak · 31-01-2011 7:21pm

gpf101 wrote: »

I've always checked my oil about 10 mins after a drive. That's what it said in my Alfas owners manual and Alfas are picky about oil!

My Alfa gives crazily inconsistent readings on the dipstick unless dipped when cold. I wouldn't trust my oil guzzling engine unless it's on a flat surface and at least an hour after driving. (Using semi-synth 10w-40)

Henry Ford III · 31-01-2011 7:29pm

Check the engine oil level when it's cold. All 30 seconds running will do is pump it around a bit, and if you check it then the level you'll get will be lower than what it really is, as oil will still be draining it's way back down towards the sump.

alexmcred · 31-01-2011 7:36pm

In my manual it states to check the oil it must have been driven for at least 10Km so engine is at operating temp.

Leave for five mins after you stop and then check the oil.

Car is BMW x1 and recommend oil is Castrol Edge 5W-30.

Have checked the car before from cold and it showed an oil level below full after giving it a run oil level was perfect.

jimmyw · 31-01-2011 8:13pm

si_guru wrote: »

If no oil light came on then it will be fine - nothing at all to worry about.

Not nessisarily, the oil light is not a very good indicator of pressure/level because it only comes on when the oil pressure is about 0-5psi, when damage could already have been done.

BDJW wrote: »

Just to be clear lads, I check the oil in my car when it is cold. When I said, let the car idle for 30 seconds, this is when the car is cold. Not when the car is hot after a drive.

mickdw wrote: »

Yes more likely to overfill if you run for 30 seconds and this can be more damaging than marginally under filling by checking when not run (if this was the wrong way).
I always let the oil run down after turning off car before checking.

The best times to check oil is if the engine has sat overnight, or about 10 mins after a good run.If you run the engine for 30 secs and switch off, the oil is still cold and so will still be thick (depending on the viscosity) and so will take longer to fall back to the sump.

Buffman · 31-01-2011 9:02pm

My dipstick has different markings on it for hot and cold, I normally check it when cold anyway.

C4Kid · 31-01-2011 9:25pm

As another poster said the 1.4 Golf is unreal for burning oil, I knew it when I bought it but I wanted a golf and couldn't afford the decent engines being my first car .

I filled it to the max mark and left it for nearly 3 weeks without checking and when I did it was at MIN.

It needs constant topping up 100-200ml a week and observation on a weekly basis.

Any long journeys with the engine is at high revs don't help either.

Nissan doctor · 31-01-2011 10:29pm

The engine should be run before checking the oil.

The maximum oil level needs to be maintained when the engine is running and the oil system is up to full pressure. Checking the oil level when its just sitting there in the sump is useless. Depending on the engine, the oil level in the sump can drop by as much as 1 litre between running and not running as the oil is pumped up to the head, oil pump, oil galleries and oil coolers in some cases.

faw1tytowers · 31-01-2011 10:35pm

Ive been driving a honda hrv the past few months and find it burns oil more than any other car ive had. Good to be aware of it. Light will come on literaly when its gone!

techie · 31-01-2011 10:48pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The engine should be run before checking the oil.

The maximum oil level needs to be maintained when the engine is running and the oil system is up to full pressure. Checking the oil level when its just sitting there in the sump is useless. Depending on the engine, the oil level in the sump can drop by as much as 1 litre between running and not running as the oil is pumped up to the head, oil pump, oil galleries and oil coolers in some cases.

How is it useless to check the oil level when it is sitting there, surely thats the very best time to check it

Nissan doctor · 31-01-2011 11:13pm

techie wrote: »

How is it useless to check the oil level when it is sitting there, surely thats the very best time to check it

So you measure it when its sitting there and its at the max.....yes? The you start the engine and the oil pump sends the oil, under pressure, around the engine, lowering the level in the sump. This can then cause issues when the level of the oil is only slightly above the base of the pick up, meaning in long bends or harder cornering/braking etc the oil can move away from the pick up leading to low pressure in the system which, no matter how brief, begin to cause accelerated wear.

If you drain a car fully an then fill it with the full amount given by the manufacturer, the level on the dipstick will be above the maximum, when you start it the level will drop to and give the correct reading.

techie · 31-01-2011 11:29pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

So you measure it when its sitting there and its at the max.....yes? The you start the engine and the oil pump sends the oil, under pressure, around the engine, lowering the level in the sump. This can then cause issues when the level of the oil is only slightly above the base of the pick up, meaning in long bends or harder cornering/braking etc the oil can move away from the pick up leading to low pressure in the system which, no matter how brief, begin to cause accelerated wear.

If you drain a car fully and then fill it with the full amount given by the manufacturer, the level on the dipstick will be above the maximum, when you start it the level will drop to and give the correct reading.

Yes I check the oil when its after settling down in the sump, when I start the engine then the oil as you say goes around the engine BUT if the correct amount is in there then no harm should come when cornering as the there is enough oil there to cope with it.

To your second point, you are right if you drain the oil out of your car and then fill it up to manufacturers spec then it will be above full UNTIL the oil filter has filled up with the fresh oil and then the level should be at max.

angeldelight · 31-01-2011 11:38pm

Oh dear - clicked into this thread out of curiosity after seeing it on the home page and it got me thinking... I've had my car since Sept 08, and have had 1 service since then, next one is next month and I have never checked the oil! So it has been checked once in over 2 years, eek! I had always presumed I only needed to check when the light went on.... Better get checking tomorrow!

O.A.P · 31-01-2011 11:38pm

When I change the oil on a car I refill to just below what the manufacturer recommendation then let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then I pull the dipstick and see where its at, sometimes it needs a little more other times its ok as it is. Now if I had let the engine run first and pumped the oil around the engine before I looked at the dipstick it would have been lower by at least a litre depending on the engine size, which would result in me adding too much oil and thinking the manufacturer got it wrong it needs way more oil than they think :rolleyes:. Or maybe the dipstick is too short:)
I always look at it again the next day in case it needs a drop more.

Nissan doctor · 31-01-2011 11:41pm

techie wrote: »

Yes I check the oil when its after settling down in the sump, when I start the engine then the oil as you say goes around the engine BUT if the correct amount is in there then no harm should come when cornering as the there is enough oil there to cope with it.

To your second point, you are right if you drain the oil out of your car and then fill it up to manufacturers spec then it will be above full UNTIL the oil filter has filled up with the fresh oil and then the level should be at max.

And the oil filter doesn't fill untill you run the engine....so to check that the oil is at the max level, you check it after running the engine.....as I said already.

techie · 31-01-2011 11:43pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

And the oil filter doesn't fill untill you run the engine....so to check that the oil is at the max level, you check it after running the engine.....as I said already.

Ok sorry we both said the same thing in different ways.

31-01-2011 11:47pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

And the oil filter doesn't fill untill you run the engine....so to check that the oil is at the max level, you check it after running the engine.....as I said already.

............ fair enough after an oil change, routinely though I would dip the oil when it's been allowed to settle.

Nissan doctor · 31-01-2011 11:55pm

RoverJames wrote: »

............ fair enough after an oil change, routinely though I would dip the oil when it's been allowed to settle.

Even when you haven't changed the oil, if the car has been sitting for a while the filter and the rest of the oil system will have, partially at least, drained back into the sump.

I admit that we aren't talking instant engine failure levels here, but it all adds up and would especially be an issue for someone inclined towards high revs.

Nissan doctor · 31-01-2011 11:58pm

angeldelight wrote: »

Oh dear - clicked into this thread out of curiosity after seeing it on the home page and it got me thinking... I've had my car since Sept 08, and have had 1 service since then, next one is next month and I have never checked the oil! So it has been checked once in over 2 years, eek! I had always presumed I only needed to check when the light went on.... Better get checking tomorrow!

The oil warning light is the final chance to save major engine damage, if its gone low enough to cause the light to come on then you are already causing excess wear on your engine parts.

01-02-2011 12:01am

Lots of filters won't drain anyway due to their position

As the oil pressure light goes out fairly sharpish on most cars after the oil is changed what's in the rest of the system must be really small in comparison to the distance between max and min on the dipstick. The only occasions where I observed a noticeable delay in the oil pressure light extinguishing after an oil change was on cars where the location of the oil filter prevented it being filled before being fitted.

I reckon on a cold engine oil level at max on the dipstick and you can't go wrong. Only my reckoning though.

tossy · 01-02-2011 12:26am

BDJW wrote: »

The best way to check your oil level is to run the car for about 30 seconds before checking the level, that way, the oil will have been pumped around the engine and you will get a more accurate view of how much oil is in the car

Wow that is some serious mi information there!

but43r wrote: »

It might damage the cat but don't think does any harm to the engine. Or am I wrong?

Ever so wrong,in the case of a desiel for instance the engine can pick up on its own oil and run on burning oil instead of diesel and then you are in a world of trouble!

Oil level gone under minimum level?

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