Yesterday, after hearing a strange rattling in the top end and a drop in my oil pressure, I began to investigate the problem. It's been 4k miles since my last oil change, been using mobile 1 synthetic 5w-30. I realized I was getting a misread on my dip stick. I put in 2 quarts and that just put my oil level to L on the stick. Oil had been accumulating on the dipstick from the dipstick tube giving me a misread. I actually took the twist out of the end of the stick and that seemed to fix the misreading problem. I just bought the car a month ago its got a little over 100k miles on it. Just worried that there may be some damage. Going to the store to grab another quart. Any thoughts?

 

The dipsticks on these cars are very misleading. I did that once with my car and still had oil pressure so I drove it about 3 miles to the store and back and checked the oil and didn't see anything. I had to do an oil change anyway and dropped my oil and it had less than a quart in it. I refilled it and ran it and it ran just fine. That was 40k miles ago and I've been boosted for most of that. Not saying don't worry about it. Make sure the motor is in good shape but thats just my experience with that.

 

yea i had the same problem that a funky dipstick

 

If you are adding 3 quarts of oil this means you have been driving with 2 quarts in the motor. Not good.

2 quarts will lubricate the bottom of the motor not the top. You have burned parts like pistons and cylinder walls. More motor oil will not fix it. Sorry.

 

At what point is the pump not able suck up any more oil? I would think 2 quarts would still be JUST enough for it to throw oil around the top end, but maybe lack under the g's of cornering from any slosh and obviously wouldn't be a great heat sink. He might be fine though; just get your oil changed asap and make sure you keep an eye on it.

 

At 2 quarts mine was still picking up oil. Under that and I don't think the top end was getting oil.

 

Silly question here, but what is your method of checking the oil? The only way to get a true reading is to let the car sit for a good ten minutes, pull the stick and wipe it off, then stick it in and pull it out again. You'll never get a good reading if you just jump out of the car and pull it.
...or maybe I'm way off base and should go watch the second half of Biggest Loser.

 

do you hear a constant tapping noise?

 

Never was it a clicking or tapping sound no.

The sound I heard that brought this to my attention was: Imagine a plastic wheel spinning fast, loosely fitted around a metal shaft. Like a "zzzzzzzzZZZZZZ!!!.... spooling up" On acceleration soon as I pushed in the clutch. Sound was definately comming from the top end. I reved my engine and noticed that my oil pressure was at about half normal operating pressures.

After putting in a total of 3 quarts, i'm reading close to full. The noise as Isuspected went away. But i'm just worried that I may have damage s omewhere.

"Yes I check my oil just like you do."

 

Is there not a "low oil" indicator light in the dash?

 

^ true...why didnt the low oil light come on?

 

The light on the dash is a warning of low pressure, not low oil level.

 

If that light comes on and the car is running, there is a major problem.

 

Isn't the saying "once the oil light comes on its too late"?

Ive also heard that it comes on when there is 1qt or less of oil... may depend on the car and its sensors though...

 

Sounds like a bearing issue to me, the question is where and which one(s).

 

It could be the timing chain making that noise.

 

My thinking is this, if it were the chain, the noise would still be there despite oil being added. The fact that the noise was noticeably reduced by adding oil makes me think it's an internally lubricated part.

Then again, it could be his clutch slipping now that he has oil and is making all sorts of extra hp.

 

Just out of curriosiy, when you look at the dip stick to check the oil level where should it come up to? When I changed my oil i put in 5qts, and the oil was exactly between the "L" and the "H", if it matters I have an HR.

 

you do know you too much oil can be a bad thing too... dont put too much in if your not getting a accurate reading.

Since you all new to this z thing, what year z do you have cause some years have a known oil consumption issue.

 

^judging by the mileage its probably not newer than a 2005 so itd only have the issue if it was a 35th annv.