How to check your Oil Level?

[Admin/Founder 2]

Just been out to check the Oil level on Boris following his Oil Change and the whole process is driving me nuts

We all know you cannot check it cold but checking it as follows isnt foolproof either


Ive used this method in the past and it appeared to work
However every soo often it wont play ball with me

Sometimes i check the oil cold,ok its not a good indicator but if its above "Min" on cold at least youve enough Oil in there in theory?

Anyhow just checked oil,started car from cold let it run for two minutes then waited one minute then took oil reading and the oil still hadnt settled

so did it again a few times until it told me i aparently had no oil whatsoever

Now that clearly isnt true as if i add up all the small amount i lost last week with the dodgy canister i estimate i lost 250ml maximum and thats being generous

Boris had lost a little oil since his rebuild 200ml max so when we drained the old oil out we measured it and we drained 4.7 litres so knowing it was a little down we filled him up with the full 5 litres to compensate

less what weve lost there must be at least what we drained left in there?

So why oh why is it being such a pain in giving us an Oil reading?

How do you guys n gals get your oil reading?
After the 2 minute start/1 minute wait its half way up the dipstick after several whipes and retrys after about three minutes it settles and completely covers the "Min" word do i top it up or do i take the half way up the dipstick after one minute as theres too much oil?

Please Help its driving me Madddd,Maddd i tell you

[Holly]

just checked my AP Auto service manual and it says that if you check the oil when it has been left standing eg. overnight and before starting the engine, the oil level may prove to be approx 1/2" above the max mark. This is normal and is due to the oil draining from the converter and the oil galleries into the sump.

So perhaps you should leave it overnight and check tomorrow and see what it reads then

Dunno if thats any help but thought i would mention it

[kalkat]

That may well be an approach Holly. As Jodie has found the 'normal' method of checking can be a hit and miss affair. I usually check it three times and take the average.

Incidently, the ammount of oil for an auto at a filter change is given as 9 pints which is a tad more than 5 litres

Emma

[Admin/Founder 2]

Was going to say i thought it twas the tother way around
I was under the impression that when you turned off the ignition the torque convertor guzzled a fair few pints up and didnt dump them until you start the engine again

I allways find when Boris hasnt run for a few days the oil level on the dipstick is low

Im just wondering if on the earlier transmission the torque convertor dumped its oil after switching off whereas on later ones it holds it?

I do think Boris is probably under though so ill check again tommorow and top him up if needed in small increments until hes right

[Holly]

from having a look my service manual covers the mk 1, mk 2, mk 2A and mk2b auto transmissions which is basically all 848cc and 998cc autos mini's plus the 1100 and 1300 autos but not the 1275cc auto minis.

It also states 10 pints for a normal oil change and 14 pints for a dry fill

[morris1100]

The handbook for the Australian Morris 1100 Auto (68/69) says...

To check the oil level run the engine for approximately two minutes. Stop the engine and allow the oil to drain for approximately one minute then check the level with the dipstick.

The handbook for the Australian Morris 1300 auto and 1300 Nomad auto (69/71) says...

Dipstick readings must be taken on level ground. A characteristic feature of automatic transmissions requires that, after overnight standing, the engine is started before checking the oil level. Run for 1 minute, switch off and wait for 1 minute before checking.

I prefer the second handbook. Any book that tells you how to make the seats fold into a bed on page 19 and does not tell you how to check the oil till page 35 certainly has its priorities right.

[Admin/Founder 2]

Nov 12, 2009 7:40:51 GMT morris1100 said:

I prefer the second handbook. Any book that tells you how to make the seats fold into a bed on page 19 and does not tell you how to check the oil till page 35 certainly has its priorities right.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
What more can i say?
Ill try that a little later

The Oil check method that is,not turning Boris into a bed ;D

[Admin/Founder 2]

Right just tried that method and it appears to work
I think the theory behind it is if you run your engine normally it takes ages to cool down which means it takes ages for the oil to resettle

By running for just one minute it makes its way around the engine at least one time without getting too hot which means it settles fairly quick (the minute you wait)

After checking it this way it said minimum
Strangly though i checked it cold before starting and it was a few mm more on the dipstick so it appears Hollys AP service manual is right

I wasnt doubting it as such but checking the oil on an Auto has become like folk law and nobody really knows the definative answer

So i guess its find whatever method works for you and follow that method

Anyhow i was convinced i hadnt lost that much the main spillage when the Oil filter was faulty was a pool about the size of a small washing up bowl and the spill was about a quarter of an inch thick
its only when i put the same thickness of oil in a measuring jug i realised what didnt look much could of been quite a bit that had been lost

So ive compromised the handbook says there 600 ml between min and max so ive put 300 ml in

In theory this should raise it between the two which they say should be the maintained level at least

It may need a full 600 ml but id rarther leave it and check again and top up from there rarther than put too much in

What a palarva
Hopefully next time ill drain,fill,not loose anything and be bang on the button

Im just hoping to get things right this time to make it easier next time

Huggz
Jodie

P.S. do i get nectar points or something for my maximum use of Smileys?

[Holly]

glad you managed to sort it out

[gretzky38]

For what it's worth, I read somewhere the oil level should be at MAX when the engine is at normal running temperature

[buzzi9870]

I have. A mini automatic trike. I don't have a dipstick. How do you check The oil and dose the transmission oil 

[(minisniper)]

Its the same stick as the engine oil it's shared