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, 10:38 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, 07:52 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, 02:33 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, 12:30 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

Parapdrapa · 07-15-2007, 10:31 PM

To much oil can also cause the oil in your crankcase to foam up. This can cause lubrication problems

Kamrulz4ever · 12-29-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuswm

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

What happens if the blood volume in your body higher than normal? It puts too much stress to your heart and as a result you are in risk of having a heart attack. Same idea applies to the engine.

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 12-29-2007, 05:51 PM

your first post is on a two year old thread? congratulations.

this advice is even older. make your dipstick easier to read. take a small chisel and light hammer and carefully cross-score the space between "e" and "f" on your dipstick. we also scored the area just above the twist at the end. this gives the oil something to attach to.

do they still make subarus?

Kamrulz4ever · 01-02-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neanderthal Racing

your first post is on a two year old thread? congratulations.

Hahaha... I didn't realize

Seppo · 01-18-2008, 09:43 AM

Wait i am confused after reading this thread. So is it best to check for oil levels after the car has been sitting over night, or 15-20 minutes after driving. There are conflicting reports. Now that i learned that my car is burning a crap load of oil, its really important for me to know the best way to check.

07-04-2005, 04:03 PM	#1
GregB STI Driver Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 286 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	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. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-15-2007, 10:31 PM	#11
Parapdrapa Amateur STI Driver Posts: 20 Join Date: Jul 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help reading oil dipstick To much oil can also cause the oil in your crankcase to foam up. This can cause lubrication problems

12-29-2007, 05:51 PM	#13
*Neanderthal Racing* GT R US Car: CUTN EDG project Fav Mod: $20. mudflaps from auto zone Location: my cave Posts: 5,847 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help reading oil dipstick your first post is on a two year old thread? congratulations. this advice is even older. make your dipstick easier to read. take a small chisel and light hammer and carefully cross-score the space between "e" and "f" on your dipstick. we also scored the area just above the twist at the end. this gives the oil something to attach to. do they still make subarus?

01-18-2008, 09:43 AM	#15
Seppo No Rice Car: 06 OBP STi Fav Mod: Brake dust Location: Jersey Posts: 635 Join Date: Sep 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help reading oil dipstick Wait i am confused after reading this thread. So is it best to check for oil levels after the car has been sitting over night, or 15-20 minutes after driving. There are conflicting reports. Now that i learned that my car is burning a crap load of oil, its really important for me to know the best way to check. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-04-2005, 10:38 PM	#2
SUBINAM1110 Silver Member Fav Mod: love that fp green ! Posts: 535 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	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 Posts: 42 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	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 STI Driver Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 286 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	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 Car: DGM 08 STi Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 600 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	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 STI Driver Car: Cars Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 286 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	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, 02:33 PM	#8
CrawfordPerformance.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 541 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	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, 12:30 PM	#9
tuswm Professional STI Driver Car: my STI Fav Mod: Sr. loan officer Location: gaithersburg MD Posts: 471 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	What "bad thing" happen when you have too much oil?

07-18-2005, 01:18 PM	#10
donmei S204 Racer Car: 04 WRB STi Fav Mod: Trailer Hitch Location: CT, U.S.A. Posts: 3,139 Join Date: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	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