11 replies to this topic

[markv]

Maybe a silly question, but I'd like to make sure I don't have too much/too little oil in my NA.. The manual states that the engine should be at operating temperature and that you should at least wait 2 minutes after switching of the engine before checking the oil level. So when I check the level after 5 minutes, it is 60% full. When I check it after an hour it's 75% full. When I check it when it is cold it is 110% full. I can understand that you have to check it at operating temperature and not too long after you have switched of because of the location of the oil filter. But how long should you wait before checking? It makes quite a bit of difference when checking... Any ideas? Thanks! Mark

[Timbo]

vxless, dont you get it, your not wanted on here, your a waste of space, get lost .

[Lambo]

Not much help, but if the manual gives a procedure for checking levels, then follow that. If in doubt, then go to a dealer and have them check it. If they look blankly and say they don't do VX220, remind them the engine is shared with any number of Astra and Vectra and should have the same procedure. My advice (as an engineer and gearbox designer for Caterpillar), would be if it is between the max and min marks on the stick leave it. If it is off the bottom of the stick then put half a litre in and run it for a few minutes. Switch off, let it settle for a couple of minutes and check again. Repeat until you get to the middle of the stick Do not be tempted to think that "Max = best" or "min = worst" - the best level is in the middle in my opinion. Think of it like the temperature gauge, you want it not too much, not too little. Over filling will destroy and engine just as quickly as running severely low. There is no warning light for overfilling though!

[markv]

Not much help, but if the manual gives a procedure for checking levels, then follow that.

If in doubt, then go to a dealer and have them check it. If they look blankly and say they don't do VX220, remind them the engine is shared with any number of Astra and Vectra and should have the same procedure.

My advice (as an engineer and gearbox designer for Caterpillar), would be if it is between the max and min marks on the stick leave it. If it is off the bottom of the stick then put half a litre in and run it for a few minutes. Switch off, let it settle for a couple of minutes and check again. Repeat until you get to the middle of the stick


Do not be tempted to think that "Max = best" or "min = worst" - the best level is in the middle in my opinion. Think of it like the temperature gauge, you want it not too much, not too little.

Over filling will destroy and engine just as quickly as running severely low. There is no warning light for overfilling though! 

Ok, than it should be ok.. Just that I don't like these kind of procedures if they're not correct... Got the manual in front of me, and it says to wait at leat 2 minutes, but it is not saying "but less than 15 minutes".

The problem probably is that the oil is flowing back to the oil pan (how do you call that in english? . But there is also oil in the oilfilter which will eventually flow down. My guess is that the oil should probably be checked with as much oil as possible in the oil pan AND in the oil filter. That's the level the enigne should work with.

Unfortunatly my dealer was clueless this morning when I asked them. Comparing it to some diesel which should also be checked when it was hot... (btw, they're a certified Opel dealer that can officially maintain speedsters..). Couldn't tell me when to check..

Thanks for the info, I'll keep a close eye on it

Cheers,

Mark

[mags993tt]

I just had the exact opposite Checked the oil level after about 5 minutes from shutting off. Oil was at 1/3 full level. Checked again about 3 minutes later and it was below the min mark..... PS yes - I did wipe and reinsert for the first check; and it was a pretty short journey so the oil may not have had time to fully warm up (around 3 miles).

[markv]

Friend of mine came up with the idea to do multiple checks after the engine is hot and see what happens to the oil level. So I stood around and checked the oil level for an hour or so.. Got the following results (first number is minutes after turning of the engine, second is is percentage from full) 0:20 50% 2:20 75% 4:57 75% 7:30 75% 10:00 75% 12:30 75% 15:00 75% 17:30 75% 20:00 75% 22:30 75% 25:00 75% 27:30 75% 30:00 75% 40:00 80% 50:00 80% 55:00 100% Before I took it out for a run to warm the engine, the oil level was at 125% (so with cold engine). So it looks like you need to check the oil somewhere between 3 and 30 minutes after turning off the warm engine (at least for a NA). After that the oil seems to start flowing back from the filter. Mark

[benw]

The problem probably is that the oil is flowing back to the oil pan (how do you call that in english? .

You could say:

The oil is draining back to the oil pan.

But you sentence summed it up perfectly

[markv]

The problem probably is that the oil is flowing back to the oil pan (how do you call that in english? .

You could say:

The oil is draining back to the oil pan.

But you sentence summed it up perfectly

Someday my english will get better

Mark

[jimgraham]

The problem probably is that the oil is flowing back to the oil pan (how do you call that in english? .

You could say:

The oil is draining back to the oil pan.

But you sentence summed it up perfectly

Someday my english will get better

Mark

seems pretty good to me, better than my Swedish any way!

JÄTTEBRA!

[markv]

Someday my english will get better 

Mark

seems pretty good to me, better than my Swedish any way!

JÄTTEBRA!

I don't speak any Swedish unfortunatly Am thinking about going there on holiday next year though... Seems to be a good place to drive around, LOTS of roads

Mark

[bAAx]

0:20 50%
2:20 75%
4:57 75%
7:30 75%
10:00 75%
12:30 75%
15:00 75%
17:30 75%
20:00 75%
22:30 75%
25:00 75%
27:30 75%
30:00 75%
40:00 80%
50:00 80%
55:00 100%

now this is what i call a methodic approach

was asking myself exactly the same question, mark.. so i was searching through the forum and found your measurements... very helpful.. thx! will be trying that soon..

btw.. forget sweden.. go for southwest norway... the most beautiful scenery youll ever see AND great roads: well surfaced, nearly empty and not one straight bit in sight


cheers!

axel