Can anyone tell if they have the right amount of oil in their Z because as we already know, the dipstick method of checking is absolutely cr#p.

 

My service manual says that the oil capacity with the oil filter is 3.4 liters.

 

I do an oil change tonight and fill up with 3.5 liters of oil and barely get any reading on the dipstick! I put another 0.5 Liters in and then can just about make out on one side of the dipstick that the oil is half way up.

 

So..... I've put more oil in than the service manual says I should and if I didn't know that I put exactly 4liters in then I would be looking at the dipstick thinking it needed another liter or so. There must also be a quantity of oil left in the oil cooler aswell!

 

I suppose that if the engine has too much oil then it will either...

 

A. Burn it off

B. Blow the rear oil seal

C. Stay in and cause drag on the moving parts

 

Steve

At last, so it's not just me then!

 

Bloody shit stick is arse Steve, I changed my oil last weekend(only the 2nd time I personally have had the pleasure) and I would say more like 4 something litres.

 

I asked Nico about this a few weeks back, oil capacity I mean.

 

I check my oil quite a bit at the mo having the oil leak from the oil pressure sensor housing. Which should be sorted now after a visit to a mech on Friday.

 

High-Low markers on the dip will show you are tip top but every other face of the stick says "you ain't got shite in bud!"

 

My Supra was the same, dipstick was cack to be honest!

 

If in doubt I always top mine up a bit, start the engine up for a few minutes. Shut it off and re-check. Then and only then does it seem to coat all faces on the dip stick and put your mind at ease.

 

 

 

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I find if you spin the dipstick around a few times before you take it out, it helps to coat all the faces, but it's still pretty hard to read - especially with clean oil!

 

I've always had to put more than 3.5l in there, more like ~4 + filling the filter first.

When I do an oil change ,I let the oil drip out for over an hour,I then refil with four litres.

 

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Originally posted by MAC 1:

When I do an oil change ,I let the oil drip out for over an hour,I then refil with four litres.

 

 

Iain,

 

Does this coat all faces of the stick completely to the top?

 

Steve

Hi chaps I recently have been wondering about the oil level on my own zed as I clearly remember when running my Sierra Cosworth it was well accepted that filling to the full line was often more than the engine actually required!

 

Reason behind this is the layout of the dreaded breather system,I personally ran mine below the full line as it would actually "use" the extra somewhere and would be a little smokey? lowering the level actually completely cured the smokey problem and the oil level would then NOT drop.

 

Later I fitted a 3 way breather kit and I could do what I wanted with the oil then no probs so it proved it was breather related.

 

So having said that I have a similar prob with my Zed, no smoke on load or overrun, no smoke on start up, no smoke when in traffic, but occasionally if re-starting after even a gentle run and then left to idle for 10 to 20 mins will smoke?? I am convinced this is breather related and plan to lower the oil level next change (next week) and replace the dreaded pvc valves which have been in my garage for weeks now.

 

Would it not be scarey to find out that lowereing the level stopped smokey Zeds at idle and that turbo seals were not always the culprits (lets hope)

 

Jeff TT

 

[This message has been edited by Jeff TT (edited 21-04-2002).]

Originally posted by Steve E:

Iain,

 

Does this coat all faces of the stick completely to the top?

 

Steve

It sure does Steve .

 

 

 

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Aye. Same here. I did an oil change about 2 weeks ago. I put about 3.5L in and it didnt show on the dip stick. I added a little more. Nothing. Some more. nothing. Some more. It covered the whole thing. And It says that way. I cant believe that my car isnt burning any oil at all inbetween oil changes.

 

 

I had to put 4 litres in to get a decent reading on the stick. Manual says 3 ltrs. The stick takes priority right??

I'd say one US Gallon and a little bit for luck.

 

Jeff mate, get out in that garage and knock up some sort of electronic gizmo to give us all exact readings will ya mate ?

 

 

 

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Jeff TT - Sierra Cosworth? How can we ever trust you again????

 

Gio

 

 

If in doubt I always top mine up a bit, start the engine up for a few minutes. Shut it off and re-check. Then and only then does it seem to coat all faces on the dip stick and put your mind at ease.

 

Hey Timmy this will always happen that's why you should never check your oil level when you've just had the engine running,it gives an unreliable reading....Cos the system would've been under pressure and the oil in the engine will work it's way to all places it can get to....including the dipstick!!!

 

Paul

 

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My NA used to take a full 4 litre can of RS.

I'd say 4 litres is about right, although my handbook said 3.4litres!

You don't want to overfill it though!

JEZ

A few things to point out:-

 

1 is the oil cooler standard??

2 Make sure you leave the dipstick out, when filling.

3 If you changed the filter, you will need 3.4 plus .5 litre for the filter. So that makes it as near as damn it 4 litres.

 

Also give it time to settle, oil from the can is cold and thick, and will take time to fully enter the sump.

 

Run the car for 5 minutes.

Leave the car for 30 min, and then check again.

 

My car only uses this amount, it maybe worth checking dipsticks, in case some one has replaced it for the wrong one.

 

Leigh.