Checking vehicle oil

[Mannix]

OK....this is a dumb one....just warning you up front. I know that my garage slab is perfectly level, but there are vehicles in there and the floor is clean. We have a SUV in the street that leaks oil, and needs checking about once a month. Q: Is there a concrete surface to be accessed publicly ANYWHERE on Gods Green Earth with a level surface other than in a garage??? If there is, I've never found one. It is comical how many times driving around that I think I found the perfect spot...shut the vehicle off....get out....and I'm obviously on a slant. Are ALL concrete surfaces other than on a garage purposely on a slant...even slight....for drainage reasons. Its become a mission for me to find a spot somewhere in my neighborhood....its been years, and I still haven't found one. It's crazy!!!

 

[Cowpolk]

Plave a piece of cardboard in your garage and park over it to check your oil

 

[Mannix]

Plave a piece of cardboard in your garage and park over it to check your oil

haha....I've done that, but I'm stubborn and keep thinking I can find the perfect spot (our garage is dark as hell) out in public somewhere.....my point kinda is that no such spot exists...everything is uneven.

 

[Runwildboys]

haha....I've done that, but I'm stubborn and keep thinking I can find the perfect spot (our garage is dark as hell) out in public somewhere.....my point kinda is that no such spot exists...everything is uneven.

The concrete slab at the fuel pumps is usually pretty level. Almost certainly level enough for checking your oil.

 

[Creeper]

The ground does not have to be perfectly level when you check the oil. The dipstick goes down into the oil pan far enough so that a slightly uneven pavement is not going to effect that reading on the dipstick enough to give you a reading so far off you will suffer engine damage. On average the low marker on the dipstick means there is still about 3 quarts of oil in the oil pan for a car that takes 5 quarts. The oil pump draws oil from near the bottom of the oil pan so even down a couple of quarts there should be enough oil in the pan to lubricate the engines, although the cooling function of the oil may not be as effective. Under normal driving conditions the engine should be fine.

Here is an interesting article on engine oil capacity:

https://www.3sx.com/tech-oil-pan-capacity-test-how-much-oil-is-really-in-the-oil-pan

Out of curiosity, when you check the oil once a month, how much oil has been lost?

 

[Tabascocat]

Isn’t that what Jiffy Lube is for?

 

[MWH1967]

A lot of places at least here in North Carolina will top off your oil for free if you get it changed there..

 

[Mannix]

The ground does not have to be perfectly level when you check the oil. The dipstick goes down into the oil pan far enough so that a slightly uneven pavement is not going to effect that reading on the dipstick enough to give you a reading so far off you will suffer engine damage. On average the low marker on the dipstick means there is still about 3 quarts of oil in the oil pan for a car that takes 5 quarts. The oil pump draws oil from near the bottom of the oil pan so even down a couple of quarts there should be enough oil in the pan to lubricate the engines, although the cooling function of the oil may not be as effective. Under normal driving conditions the engine should be fine.

Here is an interesting article on engine oil capacity:

https://www.3sx.com/tech-oil-pan-capacity-test-how-much-oil-is-really-in-the-oil-pan

Out of curiosity, when you check the oil once a month, how much oil has been lost?

Thanks for the tip creeper....I usually lose about a pint per month....been leaking for years...hasn't got any worse.

 

[Mannix]

A lot of places at least here in North Carolina will top off your oil for free if you get it changed there..

The place I take it to (Valvoline) will top it off ONCE between regular servicing, so I don't bother them with it....plus, they always jack with everything else trying to sell you something.

 

[MWH1967]

The place I take it to (Valvoline) will top it off ONCE between regular servicing, so I don't bother them with it....plus, they always jack with everything else trying to sell you something.

Yeah, I have one old truck that uses some oil between changes. When I go I Tell them don't bother, just a top off and i'm out. Bother them, that's what they are for.

 

[Ranched]

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

OK....this is a dumb one....just warning you up front. I know that my garage slab is perfectly level, but there are vehicles in there and the floor is clean. We have a SUV in the street that leaks oil, and needs checking about once a month. Q: Is there a concrete surface to be accessed publicly ANYWHERE on Gods Green Earth with a level surface other than in a garage??? If there is, I've never found one. It is comical how many times driving around that I think I found the perfect spot...shut the vehicle off....get out....and I'm obviously on a slant. Are ALL concrete surfaces other than on a garage purposely on a slant...even slight....for drainage reasons. Its become a mission for me to find a spot somewhere in my neighborhood....its been years, and I still haven't found one. It's crazy!!!

It's been years and you still haven't fixed the problem? Really?
LOL-JK