How To - Track Oil Consumption - Calibrate Dip Stick?

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fat biker

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Hayward CA
Greetings All,

Wife’s Corolla (142,000 miles) has been using “some oil” for “a while”. Getting ready to change the oil and as I have been pretty casual in the past regarding consumption, thought this would be a good time to gather some data.

Still not decided/committed to UOA, should it come to pass, the data would be useful.

1. How does everybody best keep track of oil consumption?

2. Realized I have no idea how the crosshatch area on the dipstick equates to oil quantity in the pan. Anybody have a clever idea to “calibrate” the dipstick?

TIA,
fat biker
 
I had a 2001 Corolla. Saw nothing but high speed highway miles. 1,200 miles a week. Ended up using about 1qt every 3k miles. Usually 1 qt is from the low/add mark on the dipstick to the top/full mark. I like to check the oil after the car has sat all night long and the oil has had time to drain back into the pan.
 
Change oil, fill to specifications, not dipstick indication of "full". Run engine for a minute, let oil drain back for at least 15 minutes. Remove dipstick and make a small mark/notch on dipstick with a file to show the new "full" oil level. Track mileage and consumption from there. This was pretty much the first step in an oil consumption test at the dealership.

As far a the oil volume indicated by the crosshatch, I have seen them run from 1/2 qt to 1.25 qt on passenger cars.
 
Fill it to specs or to full on dipstick. Check it in the morning. Adjust if necessary to full. As mantioned its usually a quart between the lines. You could verify that during the oil changing process: see how much oil it takes after reaching the "low" line. I would suggest to only check it in the morning.
 
I calibrate like Punisher does except the first time I do it I put in the factory specified ammount minus 1 quart to calibrate one quart low. After that mark is established then I add the last quart for the full mark. From that point on I never run the vechicle full or 1 quart low, but somewhere in between. I allways check the level after it sits overnight to get a clearer reading on the dipstick. And find a consistant parking spot that level for the readings. One of the first things I do to any of my vechicles(cars+motorcycles) is calibrate the dipstick.
 
been thinkin'

if a motor is running how much volume is actually in the oil cycle in the passages and such ?

the reason i ask is on my ATV i can check the oil and its above the full mark after sitting for a week. then when i start it and let it run a 3 m inutes then cut it off and immediately check the level it doesnt even register on the dipstick. then if i let it set about 10 minutes it slowly comes back to normal. this is with a pure one filter. now if the motor is hot and i wait 5 minutes the dipstick check is right.

so i'm wondering if you do check the vehicle cold and it says full is it technically full. i think i've only read the proper checking technique is on a warmed up motor. sooooo is it really full ?

personally i keep mine at the full mark on a cold motor. thinking it wouldnt be to full but not to low either !
 
quote:
I calibrate like Punisher does except the first time I do it I put in the factory specified ammount minus 1 quart to calibrate one quart low. After that mark is established then I add the last quart for the full mark. From that point on I never run the vechicle full or 1 quart low, but somewhere in between.
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That is a good idea!
 
Thanks for the replies.

I thought about calibrating the crosshatch area by short-filling one quart. Problem is that the oil capacity is only 3.3 quarts. I would not be comfortable starting an engine I knew was almost 1/3 low on oil. I suppose I could start with a 1/2 quart short-fill.

fat biker
 
I believe another important step to getting accurate (ie:consistent) dipstick readings is to make sure the vehicle is on a level surface.
In my case, I make a habit of checking my oil while the car is parked in my parking space @ work(which I know is level).
 
It'll probably be easier filling to a consistent mark on the dipstick, and tracking consumption by how much you're adding. If you're using the same type of oil then calibrate a qt bottle with some Sharpie marks at whatever increments you want. You can then use marks made at the same height on other qt bottles of the oil.
 
At full capacity this engine is barely 4 QTS. Being down 1 QT. IS MISSING 25% OF YOUR OIL. I don't like being short 25% of anything!
 
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