How much oil is in the engine?

Excess oil is a disadvantage, but not as dangerous as its lack. This can be especially disadvantageous in vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter.

Excess oil is a disadvantage, but not as dangerous as its lack. This can be especially disadvantageous in vehicles equipped with a catalytic converter.

Too high an oil level in the sump can damage the running surfaces of the cylinders. Excess oil must not be trapped in the piston rings. As a result, excess oil burns in the combustion channel, and unburned oil particles enter the catalyst and destroy it. The second negative effect is excessive and inefficient oil consumption.

The amount of oil in the engine oil pan should be checked at least every 1000 km, especially before a long trip.

It works best when the engine is cold or about 5 minutes after it has stopped, which is the minimum time for oil to drain into the crankcase. The oil level must be between the lower (min.) and upper (max.) mark on the so-called dipstick, never above and never below these lines.

Almost every car needs filling with a small amount of oil. Oil consumption by the engine during its operation is a natural phenomenon resulting from the processes occurring in the engine.

Some manuals for vehicles indicate the standard oil consumption for this engine. This is for passenger cars in tenths of a liter per 1000 km. As a rule, manufacturers overestimate these allowed amounts. In new engines and with low mileage, real wear is much lower, almost invisible to the naked eye. It is good to observe the amount of actual consumption, and if it exceeds the amount indicated by the manufacturer, or shows an increase compared to the previous data, contact the service center to find out the reasons for this phenomenon.

Both in summer and in winter, the operating temperature of the engine is the same and the processes do not differ. The only difference is that in winter, the percentage of driving time with an engine that is not fully warmed up can be higher, which, however, mainly affects the wear of cylinder liners and rings. Modern engine oils have the necessary fluidity even at low temperatures, which guarantees almost immediate good lubrication right after starting.

Avoid heating the engine while stationary, as some drivers do. This lengthens the heating process and has a negative effect on the engine and the environment.