Edward

Hi Pong,

I can't attest to "definitive," but here's what always works for me:

-- Reading the twisty mark: Not much to suggest except how I check it; wipe it perfectly dry, insert until it bottoms then immediately pull out in one motion and hold the stick so that the twisty is horizontal (so the oil doesn't drip up or down), then twist the dipstick 90 degrees one way then the other and look for the "completely" wet section on the twisty versus the section where only the edges of the stick are wet with oil. There, simple

-- Regarding where should the oil level be: 50-75% seems to correspond to 50-75% on my guage, so that's what I shoot for.

-- Regarding how much to add: I've found that 3/4-1 quart takes me from the near bottom of the twisty to 50-75% on the twisty.

Oh, and ALWAYS do the above with engine idling and hot (I prefer stinking hot, really). Hope this helps

Edward

CP

Edward,

That is great info. For that, you get an E-ticket ride in the RUF.

Thanks.

CP

hn

I thought it said in the manual that the twisty part = to 1.7 quart or maybe .7. Can someone confirm?

fbfisher

1.7 sounds more like it from top of "twistie" to bottom.

kkim

I check mine when it's stinking hot, too.

Does anyone else get their toes roasted when standing in back of the car checking the dipstick? I usually have slippers on when doing this and it my toes feel like they are getting burned by the air being circulated down from the engine.

Edward

LOL! I've had my toes burning under the engine fan exactly once ...guess why only once?

Pong,

Glad to help ...And thanks for the ticket!!!

Edward

JohnJL

I changed out my oil according to Robin's DIY (I don't know what I owe him/others that contributed but its a LOT) and put in 10.75 quarts in. I thought the engine was fully warmed up when I did this and I checked oil levels on both the dipstick and the dash gauge until I was at the full line on the stick and at the 1/2 line on the gauge

Now the interesing part...

When I got the car out for a good shake-down, when standing for 1 minute idling on level ground, the oil level gauge in the dash reads almost at the top solid section of the gauge. I saw a reference in another post in the archive about the hazards of overfilling, but I couldn't find a follow-up.

Should I drain some oil out or just let it go? WHat are the risks of overfilling?

thanks

kkim

John,

Double check the level with the dipstick... that is the more accurate of the 2. Is it reading full there, too?

993inNC

The owners manual states that a full oil change should take 12.5 quarts of oil (no mention of whether filters have been changed, but stands to reason they were). If you drain everything, including removing the metal supply tube, both filters, let the crank case drip drain and so forth it will take every bit of 12.....slowy of course after about 10 quarts. The dip stick twisties I think I read represent 2 quarts between the twists. I have actually found the gauge (oil level)fairly consistant on my car. When (at full op. temp.) the car is at idle, the gauge is at the top mark. At constant speed, it comes down to half way and stays. At WOT it goes down to the bottom mark. It has done this since I changed the oil a couple grand ago and has not changed. I have checked the stick once and it was wet to the very top of the twists and abruptly stopped. When I bought the car, drove it 1000 miles home, never saw that gauge move once (had no idea what to expect). I can only assume that the gauge is a fairly accurate way to tell the capacity....when the gauge changes its normal routine, its time to add oil...until then drive on. Now if your valve guides are bad and you are blowing oil through the engine in ways it wasn't intended, you probably couldn't use my method. But considering its a dry sump and apparently is capable of being run down a few quarts with no real harm under normal conditions....why bother with the dipstick, seems its more trouble than its worth.

Just my .02 cents

Greg Bell

I rely on the guage. When it hits the red at the bottom I add 1 litre which brings it up to the top.

Monique

Hummm!!! I think you are making an error which could cost you dearly.

IMO, if you removed the quantity gauge altogether and relied solely on the dipstick, you would be far safer.

Do you know many other cars that have an oil quantity gauge? The gauge is inaccurate and strictly secondary IMO.

kkim

Monique-

I agree completely... which is why I suggested John double check the oil level w/ the dipstick.

Monique

Thnaks Kelly,

Too late for you... go to bed!!!

kkim

Actually, just getting in to work.... midnight to 8 a.m.

Good morning to you... have a great day.

Greg Bell

Point taken about checking the dipstick but I would add that I only do this now from past experience of checking the dipstick and noting where the oil level guage is sitting. Are you saying that over time there could be variations between my dipstick and guage? If so please let me know.....