Oil question

[xray16]

I know this has been discussed, just wanted to get some feedback. I only have 2600 miles on the car, have had it since last May. No issues. As others have said, when I check the oil there is almost nothing on the dipstick when I pull it out other than some wisps. I tried this morning and it had been sitting 3 days or so. Have never seen any oil on the garage floor. I drove a short way. What should the oil pressure read at idle? Today it was less than 50 , but goes up under driving as usual. Guess just paranoid since I have never gotten a good reading off the stick. I am at 38% Oil Life. Any ideas? Thank you.

Long time BMW M guy, spoiled by electronic oil readings!!

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[Tomster]

So there is no oil reading on the dipstick and you start it up and drive it?
[MENTION=22079]MCarsFan[/MENTION] , is that you?

 

[shelbyman]

I know this has been discussed, just wanted to get some feedback. I only have 2600 miles on the car, have had it since last May. No issues. As others have said, when I check the oil there is almost nothing on the dipstick when I pull it out other than some wisps. I tried this morning and it had been sitting 3 days or so. Have never seen any oil on the garage floor. I drove a short way. What should the oil pressure read at idle? Today it was less than 50 , but goes up under driving as usual. Guess just paranoid since I have never gotten a good reading off the stick. I am at 38% Oil Life. Any ideas? Thank you.

Long time BMW M guy, spoiled by electronic oil readings!!

You bring up a good point about getting anything resembling an accurate dipstick reading. :shrug: I know I can't. I can tell if there's oil on it but as far as it being anything close to accurate is a joke. And the placement of it on this car is kind of tough to get at being right under the shock tower brace. I don't think it being a wire helps much either. I can't address your oil pressure reading as mine is kinda all over the place...but there is good pressure in the 70+lb area when driving.

 

[Trackaholic]

I usually dip it and clean it a couple of times, and the readings get more and more clear each time.

As far as pressure goes, I'm @ 50 when idling and 75-100 when driving it seems.

-T

 

[jamesb1986]

When cold my pressure will idle at 100 ish, after a couple of miles and warm it idles around 30 ish. When driving it fluctuates as you would expect but under WOT I see it hit 110 or more.

In terms of an accurate oil level reading I have never struggled as much on any other car as I have with this one (I even made a thread about it). I tend to take multiple readings, cold, and always having the reading edge of the stick facing the bottom of the engine. So far I cannot detect any leaks (on the car or on the drive way) but my oil level did drop and after about 950 miles I added half a qt.

 

[16_DIB]

I was about a quart low right before my 5000 mile oil change. So if you're oil dipstick is reading low, add some oil. Or do an oil change since you're at 38% already.

EDIT: Just noticed this is in the GT350 section... but still applies.

 

[Zitrosounds]

My original engine consumed oil at about ever 1k miles. I have a new engine and it also consumes oil at the same rate lol Just checked last night at the 1k+ break in. Nature of the beast. No worries thought as I am intimately familiar with the internal combustion engine.

 

[firestarter2]

Random are you checking on the side of the dip stick with the pattern or the smooth side?

 

[Zitrosounds]

I was about a quart low right before my 5000 mile oil change. So if you're oil dipstick is reading low, add some oil. Or do an oil change since you're at 38% already.

EDIT: Just noticed this is in the GT350 section... but still applies.

The supplement says if it is below the lower opening add just enough oil to get it past the first mark. If the oil is in between the lower and upper opening DO NOT ADD OIL.

 

[jamesb1986]

Random are you checking on the side of the dip stick with the pattern or the smooth side?

The pattern side facing the bottom of the engine is how I do it - I think I read in another thread this was the best way? I know if I flip the stick over I get different readings so I tend to stick with the same way and do multiple readings (almost like taking an average I guess).

 

[johnny1]

Yea that was me. Its really hard to get an accurate reading the way the dip stick is located. And I'd checked the oil after car set over night right after I got it and found with the pattern facing down (facing bottom of engine) it showed full but with pattern up it showed as though it was a quart low. So I always leave the dipstick in with the pattern facing down and check it first thing in the morning on a cold engine and it always shows full.

 

[jasonstang]

The pattern side facing the bottom of the engine is how I do it - I think I read in another thread this was the best way? I know if I flip the stick over I get different readings so I tend to stick with the same way and do multiple readings (almost like taking an average I guess).

Pretty sure on the Coyote you need to have the patterned side facing the center of the engine or the reading will be wrong (the tip of the dip stick curves when insterted).
I would image the Voodoo being identical.

 

[firestarter2]

Pretty sure on the Coyote you need to have the patterned side facing the center of the engine or the reading will be wrong (the tip of the dip stick curves when insterted).
I would image the Voodoo being identical.

I think we need to confirm that people are checking their oil right. Over time the oil will get thinner so if you are NOT checking right it will look like you have less oil then you actually have

 

[jasonstang]

I think we need to confirm that people are checking their oil right. Over time the oil will get thinner so if you are checking right it will look like you have less oil then you actually have

Lol no. The reason why your oil gets thinner is the viscosity modifier is getting damage while the engine is being used. Your 5W50 oil starts with a 5W straight oil, then they add modifier to the oil. As the oil gets warmer, the modifier uncoil and expand to allow the oil hold it's thickness better.
It's like putting cornstarch in your soup, it thickens it.
The oil volume does not change as the oil gets thinner. So if your level is getting lower, you are burning it.

 

[firestarter2]

Lol no. The reason why your oil gets thinner is the viscosity modifier is getting damage while the engine is being used. Your 5W50 oil starts with a 5W straight oil, then they add modifier to the oil. As the oil gets warmer, the modifier uncoil and expand to allow the oil hold it's thickness better.
It's like putting cornstarch in your soup, it thickens it.
The oil volume does not change as the oil gets thinner. So if your level is getting lower, you are burning it.

sorry was missing a "NOT" from the sentence

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