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All pictures and texts in this web page are the property of nomaallim.com. Any use of any part of those contents without the written consent of nomaallim.com shall be subject to legal procedures as per international and local laws in the concerned country. Using the name "nomaallim" or "nomaallim com" or "nomaallim.com" in the text describing the unauthorized copied content shall not constitute an exception and shall be sanctioned in accordance to the effective laws and proceedings.
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DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
Manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals
Most car manufacturers now recommend oil change intervals of about 20,000 Km or more, approximately 3 times more than what used to be recommended in the 1980's for example.
If this appears to be a "greener" maintenance wasting less oil, it is however to be matched with the real life conditions of each one of us:
If this appears to be a "greener" maintenance wasting less oil, it is however to be matched with the real life conditions of each one of us:
- Fuels in some countries are not necessarily of the same quality than the ones used by the car manufacturer to make its tests resulting in a much higher oil contamination.
- Such intervals do suppose that drivers are checking the oil level and adding oil at least 3 or 4 times in between oil change intervals which is rarely true.
- The lower engine oil viscosities now required by modern engines to reduce fuel consumption do lead to a higher oil consumption through the oil vapors recycling circuits of the engine.
- Increased traffic and traffic jams let your engine run more time for the same kilometers. A maintenance schedule based on hours instead of km seem more and more adequate for engines.
- You might live on a hill, a mountain and drive daily on slopes which drastically reduces the lifetime of your engine lube oil.
Vehicle's built in oil gauges
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Your vehicle is equipped with at least:
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A low oil level does not trigger the low oil level sensor except too late when 1/3 or less of the engine oil is left in the oil pan!
A low oil level does not trigger the low oil pressure warning signal except in some driving conditions like a steep slope or upon turning but this remains very brief and vanishes in a second.
The oil level check dipstick remains then the only reliable mean to control and adjust the oil level. You have to use it preferably when the engine is warm but not hot i.e. after having stopped it for not less than 15 minutes and up to 1 hour.
A low oil level does not trigger the low oil pressure warning signal except in some driving conditions like a steep slope or upon turning but this remains very brief and vanishes in a second.
The oil level check dipstick remains then the only reliable mean to control and adjust the oil level. You have to use it preferably when the engine is warm but not hot i.e. after having stopped it for not less than 15 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Symptoms of a low oil level driving
Symptoms vary from one vehicle to the other but keep in mind that mechanical components like the Variable Valve Timing System, Brakes and turbo vacuum pump, Hydraulic valve lifters, etc. are all powered by your engine oil and thus the below might be experienced:
- Noisy valve lifters when tackling a steep slope.
- Misfires and Superknock detection and related ODBII codes generation upon accelerating at low and medium speed, random cylinder.
- Stiff brake pedal with a reduced braking force when using the brakes the first time after turning on the engine.
- Low oil pressure signal triggered briefly (then vanishes) in slopes and turns.
- Eventually and at last, a low oil level indication if your vehicle is equipped with such device.
Topping up engine oil level
Some dipsticks are confusing...and one has to wonder which mark is the right one!
In general, there are 2 oil level marks one at the bottom of the dipstick and another a few cm higher.
The engine oil has to reach the upper mark.
In general, there are 2 oil level marks one at the bottom of the dipstick and another a few cm higher.
The engine oil has to reach the upper mark.
- Dry first the dipstick with a tissue then make your measurement on a warm engine as stated above.
- Add oil little by little.
- Test with the dipstick until the upper mark is covered with oil.
See also...
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