oil level after oil & filter change

old_cruiser

Did an oil and filter change on the car yeterday and Noticed in my handbook ( 2.2 petrol) that for checking the oil level, that it must be checked with Engine at normal operating temperature and waiting at least 5 mins for normal oil to drain back, anyway put in the required 4.75L and ran the engine up to operating temp' left it for just over 5 mins and on the dipstick it read at about 3/4 mark, which I thought was fine, however upon checking several hours later on a cold engine, I found the level to be a few mm above max' is this anything to worry about ? and why is it they say checking it on engine that is at operating temp' I always used to check on a cold engine i.e before a long journey in the old days!!
Cheers Pete

sdbutler10

it should be fine mate(someone correct me if im wrong)

old_cruiser

Thanks for the reply mate, thinking about it, the way these damn things guzzle oil won't be long before it's below max' mark on a cold engine anyway!! I changed from the recommended 5W30 to 10W40 as this might help with the oil consumption , but will probably change oil and filter more frequently than VX suggest if I continue to use 10W40.
Cheers Pete

MikeS

5 30 is thinner and really you should be burning more than 10 40 when booting it as it has a lower viscosity at higher temps

i would change the oil using proper vxhall oil and filters every 5000 miles, apparently from speaking to my friend who works for vuaxhall warranty analysis he said the major problems from the z22se engine was the oil filter falling apart and blocking up the oil jets hence why the bigger oil jet was created, he went on about irmscher back boxes and egr valves as well but that is irrelevant

as for burning oil does it do after you start her cold, idling ?, revving after idling for a period of time or under load when booting it ?

under load when booting it is usually ring damage and bottom end wear like bearings but you will prob get a knocking noise, the more common is the stem seals where u get no noise but u notice oil pouring out after idling at lights then take off

the old golf gti's were always blowing out oil as a result of knackered stem seals

old_cruiser

not noticed it burning any oil i.e no blue smoke revving at idle or booting under load etc, as for the oil it's usually had 5w30 from what I can tell from previous services and only on Friday did I put in the VX 10w40 so will be interesting to see how that goes.
Cheers Pete

old_cruiser

Well just goes to show that checking oil at operating temp' and waiting at least 5 mins as VX state, is in my opinion a load of nonesense and checking on a cold engine is really the way to go as I've always done in the past as continuing on from my 1st post , took the car out today and then left it standing for about 20 mins and the level on dipstick this time was about 5 mm or so over the max' whereas the other day I'd left it for 5-10 mins and it was one notch below the max' so how can they say that waiting at least 5 mins is the way to go when you get these readings , so how long are you supposed to leave it before you take an accurate reading!! well as far as I can see it would need to be a fair while and by this time it's not going to be at operating Temp' crazy isn't it!! and btw had to remove about 0.5L to get it at max which by this time car had been sitting for about 3/4 of an hour, what a state to get into eh!!
Cheers Pete

vocky

I usually check the oil with a cold engine

old_cruiser

vocky said:
I usually check the oil with a cold engine

Cheers mate, glad you've said that ,I have always done this on all my previous cars, but when reading the owners manual on my Vec C it says at operating temperature, trouble is at what point 5mins plus do you check it as oil is draining down into the sump for a good while and if you check it say at 5mins and it's between min and max as I did first off and then after 3/4 hour it's well over the max' , that's not good!! so cold it is ,despite arguments I've had on another forum over this!! I don't know what a state to get into eh!!
Cheers Pete

bertone2008

would you use 5w 40?

shunter

I've changed mine every 5000 or so, for the last 3 years using 0w-40 (Mobil 1)

It's been fine.

MikeS

i always use 10w 40 as my cars usually have average to high miles. dont wanna put a thin oil then notice i got oil leaks everywhere 🙂, also the older engines that operate with bigger clearances need higher viscosity ratings to ensure sufficient oil film thickness on the engine components

sdbutler10

im sad i change mine every 3000 miles and use 5w 30 fully syntheic every time i change the oil it still got a bit of a golden colour to it lol but i get parroniod about the chain lol oh well a clean engine is the best way to go aint it.

old_cruiser

Nothing wrong in erring on the side of caution mate, I intend to change mine a lot more frequent and have just put 10W40 in for the first time as with 5w30 it just seems to be using more oil than I'd like it to ,so hopefully it might be reduced somewhat using the 10w40.
Cheers Pete

Black

MikeS said:
under load when booting it is usually ring damage and bottom end wear like bearings but you will prob get a knocking noise, the more common is the stem seals where u get no noise but u notice oil pouring out after idling at lights then take off

the old golf gti's were always blowing out oil as a result of knackered stem seals

My engine is quiet, however under load and booting it it does blow out smoke, piston rings then? 🙁