Help reading oil dipstick

GregB · 07-04-2005, 04:03 PM

I'm a bit confused by the STi dipstick. I changed the oil at 2000km with dino oil. I used 4.5 qts. When I check the oil when the engine is hot, say 10 minutes after turning the car off, the dipstick reads past the full mark, and the top hole is filled with oil. If I leave the car sitting for 8-10 hours (or overnight), then the dipstick reads just over the L, and only the bottom hole is fill with oil. This has happened since I did the oil change, so I don't think I'm burning oil.

Is this normal? Did I put in too little oil? I don't understand why I'm getting two different readings.

SUBINAM1110 · 07-04-2005, 10:39 PM

After runing your motor there is a movement of the oil within the engine . it is also thinner at this hot stage. thus the different readings. make sure you start with a cold enging and a dry dipstick wiped in between readings. from what i can tell i would say that your COLD reading is the most accurate and it should read like your hot reading is showing. one more Q... what kind of oil , what weight and how often do you change it? was that the first oil change?
sman
10k miles. zero burning as i am now on m1 0-40w

ChronicSTI · 07-05-2005, 07:27 AM

Oil can never be checked when the engine is hot for an accurate reading. The engine must always be cold and preferably left over night so all oil is in the pan. If its right above the L when its checked when its 100% cold then its low on oil. I only check my oil in the morning before work.

***Datadatum*** · 07-05-2005, 07:53 AM

The manual states that the oil level may be between the F mark and notch when the engine is warm. Read:

GregB · 07-05-2005, 08:24 AM

It was my first oil change. I used Castrol 5w30, which I think is the same stuff Subaru uses. I changed it at 2000km, now the car is at 3700km. Seems like I may have underfilled it a bit.

I'm going to change the oil again by the end of the week, to Royal Purple 5w30 Synthetic, so I'll be sure to put in a bit more. What's the consensus for an oil change amount? 4.8qts? 5qts? I always change the filter at the same time.

raindance · 07-05-2005, 09:30 AM

Put about 4.5 quarts in it. Drive it. Let it cool for about a half hour. Check it. Add a little more if you need to. The first time I changed mine I put in about 4.8 quarts and overfilled it. Had to actually drain some out. The level should be somewhere between the "F" and the notch, like Datadatum (and the manual) pointed out.
-rain-

GregB · 07-16-2005, 11:19 PM

From speaking to both my regular mechanic and the mechanic who serviced my STi last week, it seems that the best time to check the oil is 15-20 minutes after the car has been driven at operating temperature.

When they did the oil change at the dealership, they used 4.5 quarts of Royal Purple Synthetic 5w30 oil. I figure it must ahve been underfilled at the last oil change and that's why I was getting a weird reading. I'm going to check it frequently until my next oil change to see if I'm burning anything.

**CrawfordPerformance.com** · 07-17-2005, 02:34 PM

The reason that you get a higher reading when the oil is hot is because of the thermal expansion of the oil. At this point, you do not want the oil level to be above the notch cut into the side of the dip stick. When the oil is cold, it should be closer to the F mark/hole.

The same thing happens in your radiator, which is the reason of the overflow container.

Quirt

tuswm · 07-18-2005, 12:31 PM

What "bad thing" happen when you have too much oil?

donmei · 07-18-2005, 01:18 PM

on a localized level (i.e. it may not show on the oil pressure gauge) you can have abnormally high oil pressures because oil is getting picked up by something it shouldn't be picked up by. This can blow seals which leads to leakage.

In an extreme case the engine could hydrolock, although that would require some effort and probably about 25 qts.

Don

07-04-2005, 04:03 PM	#1
GregB Senior STI Driver Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003	Help reading oil dipstick I'm a bit confused by the STi dipstick. I changed the oil at 2000km with dino oil. I used 4.5 qts. When I check the oil when the engine is hot, say 10 minutes after turning the car off, the dipstick reads past the full mark, and the top hole is filled with oil. If I leave the car sitting for 8-10 hours (or overnight), then the dipstick reads just over the L, and only the bottom hole is fill with oil. This has happened since I did the oil change, so I don't think I'm burning oil. Is this normal? Did I put in too little oil? I don't understand why I'm getting two different readings.

07-05-2005, 07:53 AM	#4
*Datadatum* Visiting NASIOC Timeout Feedback Score: 2 reviews Car: 05 STi + 08 OBXT My Stuff: Subaru Parts Fav Mod: baby seats! Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 7,683 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004	The manual states that the oil level may be between the F mark and notch when the engine is warm. Read: Attached Thumbnails

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07-04-2005, 10:39 PM	#2
SUBINAM1110 Silver Member Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: 2004 STI My Stuff: Subaru Parts Fav Mod: love that fp green ! Posts: 535 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2004	After runing your motor there is a movement of the oil within the engine . it is also thinner at this hot stage. thus the different readings. make sure you start with a cold enging and a dry dipstick wiped in between readings. from what i can tell i would say that your COLD reading is the most accurate and it should read like your hot reading is showing. one more Q... what kind of oil , what weight and how often do you change it? was that the first oil change? sman 10k miles. zero burning as i am now on m1 0-40w

07-05-2005, 07:27 AM	#3
ChronicSTI Banned Feedback Score: 0 reviews Posts: 42 IWSTI Addict since: May 2005	Oil can never be checked when the engine is hot for an accurate reading. The engine must always be cold and preferably left over night so all oil is in the pan. If its right above the L when its checked when its 100% cold then its low on oil. I only check my oil in the morning before work.

07-05-2005, 08:24 AM	#5
GregB Senior STI Driver Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003	It was my first oil change. I used Castrol 5w30, which I think is the same stuff Subaru uses. I changed it at 2000km, now the car is at 3700km. Seems like I may have underfilled it a bit. I'm going to change the oil again by the end of the week, to Royal Purple 5w30 Synthetic, so I'll be sure to put in a bit more. What's the consensus for an oil change amount? 4.8qts? 5qts? I always change the filter at the same time.

07-05-2005, 09:30 AM	#6
raindance Professional STI Racer Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: DGM 08 STi Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 628 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2005	Put about 4.5 quarts in it. Drive it. Let it cool for about a half hour. Check it. Add a little more if you need to. The first time I changed mine I put in about 4.8 quarts and overfilled it. Had to actually drain some out. The level should be somewhere between the "F" and the notch, like Datadatum (and the manual) pointed out. -rain-

07-16-2005, 11:19 PM	#7
GregB Senior STI Driver Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 301 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2003	From speaking to both my regular mechanic and the mechanic who serviced my STi last week, it seems that the best time to check the oil is 15-20 minutes after the car has been driven at operating temperature. When they did the oil change at the dealership, they used 4.5 quarts of Royal Purple Synthetic 5w30 oil. I figure it must ahve been underfilled at the last oil change and that's why I was getting a weird reading. I'm going to check it frequently until my next oil change to see if I'm burning anything.

07-17-2005, 02:34 PM	#8
CrawfordPerformance.com Authorized Vendor Feedback Score: 2 reviews My Stuff: Subaru Parts Fav Mod: Power Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 1,013 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2004	The reason that you get a higher reading when the oil is hot is because of the thermal expansion of the oil. At this point, you do not want the oil level to be above the notch cut into the side of the dip stick. When the oil is cold, it should be closer to the F mark/hole. The same thing happens in your radiator, which is the reason of the overflow container. Quirt

07-18-2005, 12:31 PM	#9
tuswm Professional STI Driver Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: my STI Fav Mod: Sr. loan officer Location: gaithersburg MD Posts: 471 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2004	What "bad thing" happen when you have too much oil?

07-18-2005, 01:18 PM	#10
donmei S204 Racer Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: 04 WRB STi Fav Mod: Trailer Hitch Location: CT, U.S.A. Posts: 3,138 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2004	on a localized level (i.e. it may not show on the oil pressure gauge) you can have abnormally high oil pressures because oil is getting picked up by something it shouldn't be picked up by. This can blow seals which leads to leakage. In an extreme case the engine could hydrolock, although that would require some effort and probably about 25 qts. Don