What do you top off with?

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I'm going for a one year OCI. After 6 months time I had to add half a qt. Now I happened to have more of the same oil on hand because I got a good deal on it so that's what I topped off with but its not going to keep getting synthetic if it continues to use oil.


Half a quart every 6 months seems pretty resonable to me. Definitely not enough usage to justify switching to a dino.

To answer the OP, on the Audi I always top of with the same fill. Our old Subaru leaked/burned oil fast enough (1 qt. every 1500-2000) I just threw in whatever was on hand or on sale. It never knew the difference.
 
Back in 2011, the oil filter housing adapter started leaking badly on the Cherokee. I was putting in Supertech dino 10w-40 to help.

Then, magically, the leak stopped ... even when I did an oil change and switched back to synthetic. Strange.

Right now, neither vehicle uses much oil at all. The Focus used about 1/2 quart on the last 6K mile OCI. Not bad at all. The Cherokee went a year (about 3K miles) and used nothing measurable.
 
If I'm topping off early to mid in the OCI cycle then I generally like to go with same as the original fill if possible. Topping off late in the OCI cycle however I'm happy enough to put almost anything in there.
 
My vehicles: top off with same as running, or as close as I can get, ie 0w40 or 0w30 edge for top off in either vehicle if needed. Haven't needed to top off much lately in those.

Other vehicles that I drive from time to time that are old and neglected: anything that is SL or later rated in 30 or 40 grades. Any oil is better than no oil! I've seen cars that were 2-3 quarts low a few times... Yikes!
 
Whatever's in my garage/trunk.

Does anybody have any real evidence/proof that it should be topped off with anything in particular?
 
I'm running M1 0w30 in everything I have right now and always have at least a half jug around for topping off.

Keep it simple.
 
Should I have to topoff(almost never), I'll use any spec'd oil or open container that I keep around. Often I use my own mix of oils that I pour into another container for OPE's from all of my OCI's(let the bottles drip/drain upside down). I collect alot of free oil this way.

The mixed oils are a combo of syn/dino, 5w20, 5w30, 10w30 but, mostly the 1st two as I almost never buy any 10w30 any longer unless it a steal of a deal.

All the oils that I use are held in high regard here at Bob's even if they're store brands such as W*M-ST, NAPA, PEAK etc.
 
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Only one of my 4 rides needs top offs, and thats only after 200K miles. When I do, though, I use SAE 30wt. Why? The one straight weight qt. will hedge against shearing and fuel dilution, and won't significantly affect the overall multi-visc properties of the fill.
 
Same Oil if available, and if not, then same Weight, and if that's not handy same Brand but different weight is OK, and... then...

Anything SG, SL, SM or SN.

Because I don't operate any vehicles that are significantly sensitive about oil. I figure "new" is always better than not enough or none.

There is almost always a partial quart (or more) of the last oil somewhere in the car or truck: I do check the bikes almost every time I ride: tire pressure & oil level is just a normal habit.

Cheers!
 
What ever is in there.
If it's good enough to fill with, why not stay with it?
Besides, if one is doing UOA's then anything else will skew results.

But if I was stupid enough to not have some with me on a long road trip in my car. In a pinch I would be using Mobil 1 5w30.
Then again my car doesn't use or leak oil.
 
Typically stay with whatever was put in for the oil change, except in the case of the Saturn. I try to stay with the same oil for the first 2K to 3K of the change, and then top off with absolutely anything, realistically, it has run burning pretty much a total mix of oils for the last 75K though so I'm not too worried.

Timing wise, other cars I'll top off whenever I notice, and it's going to take more than a few ounces. The Saturn, I'll top off whenever I check it (at a minimum every week). I don't wait until it gets below the min line.
 
Originally Posted By: Errtt
Any top-off, same oil being used.
Thing is, 3 vehicles and I never had to add oil from OC to OC.


Same with my 3 current vehicles. The 2005 4.6 Explorer and 1996 2.0 Contour both go 8,000-9,000 mile OCI's without showing any really measurable amount of oil usage. My 2002 4.6 F-150 goes 5,000 miles OCI's, again, without showing any measurable amount of oil usage. My previous 4.9 F-150 used 1 qt /2,000 miles, mostly leaking, from new. I topped off with the same oil as the original OCI included. Though what I read is any API spec'd oils are supposed to mix ok. But you dilute the additives of the original oil.

Whimsey
 
Originally Posted By: TrevorS
A related question: When do you top off? Below minimum only?


I'll only add a full quart if it's going to need oil again prior to next change and if OCI is coming up soon, I won't add then... 1.5qt low isn't going to be a issue with any of the vehicles I own, as they all have at least a 5qt pan...
 
I usually top off when i need to add 1/2 qt or more.

The corolla uses about 1/2 qt every 3K. So it's about a quart every OC. My commuter car. 50 miles per day. 80% Highway.

The Pathfinder I'm trying to experiment how far I can go. 5K since my last OC with PP, I have added in about 1-3/4 qts. This engine is an oil user on highway (4K out if the 5K were road trip highway miles.
 
Originally Posted By: Trajan
Same as what's in there.


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