General What is the optimum level for engine oil on the dip stick

[Nenagh52]

Had a look this morning in advance of a trip to France tomorrow and its at half way between the marks .
Mother factor guys said thats fine, more not required as it will increase pressure in the engine block.
Any thoughts on this theory?
Thanks as always

 

[varesecrazy]

Midway is fine..

Only real difference being volume of oil to warm.. Or cool

warmer climes want a little more..
Cold weather a little less... But that's only 'being fussy'

As I said midway is fine


I did an oil change 200 miles ago and I set it to 'midway' .

Enjoy your trip

 

[Dave Ducato]

I may be OCD, but I fill it to the upper limit, if then it does use oil (and I hadn't noticed) it'll be longer until an issue occurs.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

its at half way between the marks . Mother factor guys said thats fine, more not required as it will increase pressure in the engine block.
Any thoughts on this theory?

The engine block is made out of solid metal. The oil pump pushes oil round the engine at high pressure, way higher than the weight of oil would exert.
The engine block is built to withstand many thousands of explosions per minute.
I have no idea where this guy came up with the idea that having any more oil than half way up the dipstick would cause more pressure in the engine block, Nor what he thinks a few extra ml of oil would do in that situation.

Just as an example to point out how silly this is. A heating oil tank for a domestic heating oil system will hold hundreds of liters of oil. In a plastic tank. considerably weaker than the castings of an engine block.

The perfect amount of oil in an engine is between the high and low marks. Anything above or below is bad. Otherwise it really makes no difference.

As said above if you keep it toped up to the top of the mark, then you'll reduce the risk of running it low, between checks.

 

[theoneandonly]

The perfect amount of oil in an engine is between the high and low marks. Anything above or below is bad. Otherwise it really makes no difference.

As said above if you keep it toped up to the top of the mark, then you'll reduce the risk of running it low, between checks.

Sage advice for older engines, but, for modern engines with DPFs and regeneration especially euro6 its a slightly different story.
The best place is halfway. Durring regen it is possible to dilute the oil with diesel (hence the oil degration software) increasing the oil level. If its allready full you cant see it getting fuller and the grief that can cause. You can also see that dilution is taking place and check the quality (in software) .Regens can happen at decreasing intervals as the Dpf get blocked, another thing to keep an eye on.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Sage advice for older engines, but, for modern engines with DPFs and regeneration especially euro6 its a slightly different story.
The best place is halfway. Durring regen it is possible to dilute the oil with diesel (hence the oil degration software) increasing the oil level. If its allready full you cant see it getting fuller and the grief that can cause. You can also see that dilution is taking place and check the quality (in software) .Regens can happen at decreasing intervals as the Dpf get blocked, another thing to keep an eye on.

The reason you get diesel in the oil is when the Regen doesn't complete properly and washing past the piston rings. The rising oil levels is usually the result of repeated failed Regen attempts. The oil degradation sensor is there to warn you if the oil has become too contaminated with oil, and the dipstick marks and engineering of the engine itself does have some leeway in the oil level above the dipstick marks.

Basically the manufacturer would not put the upper mark at a specific point it it were not safe to have the oil level filled to that mark.

If a diesel is used properly and run on longer journeys then the DPF should be a largely trouble free component.

 

[bugsymike]

Years ago we had a lady top up her engine oil whilst getting petrol in her Morris 1000, she filled it to the top of the rocker cover!
Apart from smoking and lots of oil leaks, I don't think there was any extra "oil pressure".
I think M2 Ford Cortinas had advice not to overfill above high mark due to crank slapping the oil on steep inclines, this was around 1968 I think.

 

[Nenagh52]

Thanks for all in the insights, Just back from a 1,500 km to and from France, left oil as it was.
spent a week here
Rue du Camping, 85630 Barbâtre, France

 

[The Panda Nut]

Correct oil level is to the full mark. The lower mark identifies the point at which it is too low. While half way is acceptable and safe to run ideally you fill it to, the full mark where there is a reserve sufficient to cope with the normal consumption of a few days long and hard motoring. If you know your vehicle well you could run at a lower level but and engine issues that cause oil loss will be a severe problem sooner. I try and keep the oil levels at max / full for this reason. Filling the car after an oil change with the correct measured quantity of oil should see the oil at or very near the top mark not lower.