[matt.y]

Hello guys,

Ive noticed recently that my engine would occasionally need oil (2015 i4 with ~5000 miles). I was wondering if its okay to add "Mobil 1 96995 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil" and just keep driving till next oil change or do i need to go get a full oil change immediately if ive mixed the oil?

What do you guys do when you notice that your oil levels have gone down?

 

[enne]

What do you guys do when you notice that your oil levels have gone down?

I add more oil...a lot of engines consume oil. I mean, yours probably shouldn't be doing that to an alarming degree though.

What kind of oil is in it now, and why would you want to add that specific kind? Any reason or just wondering if 0W-20 is okay for your car? Your owner's manual will tell you what kind of oil to use. Mobil 1 is okay for Accords though, that's what I use.

Mixing different viscosity oils, if you must do it, won't hurt anything.

 

[MikeNC]

0w-20 is the required oil for all 9th gen Accords, V6 and I4. Adding any high quality synthetic will be fine and keep it up in between oil changes. But, if you're adding a lot between changes then something is amiss.

 

[str8t six]

just curious, how low is it?

 

[rlitman]

With the long oil change intervals in modern cars, it is not unusual to see a car burn a quart between changes. That is the difference between the "full" and the "add" marks on the dipstick.

Note that overfilling on oil is much worse than underfilling. If the oil level is on the stick and is above the add mark, there is no reason to add oil to bring it to the full mark. So in most cases, you should not need to add oil between oil changes.

A new engine during breakin will consume more oil until the rings have fully seated. If you're still using more oil than this after another 5000 miles, it might be cause for concern.

Yes, it is fine to top off with 0w20. Just DO NOT OVERFILL!

 

[matt.y]

just curious, how low is it?

the oil was at halfway at around 3500 miles so i put a half a quart in it.

With the long oil change intervals in modern cars, it is not unusual to see a car burn a quart between changes. That is the difference between the "full" and the "add" marks on the dipstick.

Note that overfilling on oil is much worse than underfilling. If the oil level is on the stick and is above the add mark, there is no reason to add oil to bring it to the full mark. So in most cases, you should not need to add oil between oil changes.

A new engine during breakin will consume more oil until the rings have fully seated. If you're still using more oil than this after another 5000 miles, it might be cause for concern.

Yes, it is fine to top off with 0w20. Just DO NOT OVERFILL!

omg! i put half a quart in it is that enough to cause damage? Ur scaring me here the dipstick read at just below half so i added oil. do you think half-quart to a quart is enough to cause aeration?

I also have been driving for some 1500 miles and haven't received any low oil pressure lights or warnings on the dash

 

[travrach]

omg! i put half a quart in it is that enough to cause damage? Ur scaring me here the dipstick read at just below half so i added oil. do you think half-quart to a quart is enough to cause aeration?

I also have been driving for some 1500 miles and haven't received any low oil pressure lights or warnings on the dash

What did it read after the half quart? Half way between add and full is not bad, just keep an eye on it.

 

[ltsr]

omg! i put half a quart in it is that enough to cause damage? Ur scaring me here the dipstick read at just below half so i added oil. do you think half-quart to a quart is enough to cause aeration?

I also have been driving for some 1500 miles and haven't received any low oil pressure lights or warnings on the dash

be honest, have you been driving the car like a maniac?

 

[BubbaKen]

My 2015 4cyl has over 12,000 miles and has not burned any oil yet with mostly highway miles.

 

[Kamdog]

be honest, have you been driving the car like a maniac?

Or an idiot?



http://youtu.be/XWPCE2tTLZQ

 

[matt.y]

be honest, have you been driving the car like a maniac?

Well i havent really brought it up to redline, and i do mostly highway miles with it so the engine sits at 2800 to 3000 rpms most of the time (70-80 mph in 6th gear)

What did it read after the half quart? Half way between add and full is not bad, just keep an eye on it.

It read back right on the top hole on the dipstick on flat ground

 

[rlitman]

omg! i put half a quart in it is that enough to cause damage? Ur scaring me here the dipstick read at just below half so i added oil. do you think half-quart to a quart is enough to cause aeration?

I also have been driving for some 1500 miles and haven't received any low oil pressure lights or warnings on the dash

If the oil is not above the full mark on the stick, you have nothing to worry about. because it is not overfilled. But you also have no reason to worry if the oil is below that mark, but above the add mark.
You really only need to add oil, when it is below the add mark. That is what that mark is for.

The low oil pressure light will not come on, until you either have no oil left, or your oil pump (or sensor) fails. The light is a warning to pull over and shut the engine immediately.

So long as the oil is reaching the stick, you really have nothing to worry about. As a general rule on cars, the stick indicates the last two quarts. With the last quart being the difference between the two marks. Even a little below the stick, the engine is not being starved for oil, so you're not really doing damage.
I'd suggest taking your OCD meds and relaxing. :wink

 

[johsch]

I've got 9500 miles on my 2015 Accord I4 and never had a problem with oil consumption. Had the oil changed per maintenance minder at 7200 miles and the oil was at the full mark on the dip stick when I took it in. Its hard to believe you had to add oil at 5000 miles but who knows. You might be a bit more "aggressive" in your driving than I am.

 

[boisssy]

my oil was just below the 1st dot on the dip stick when i went to change my oil

about 10000kms before i went to change it oil life freshly dropped at 5%

went through fall and winter weather

 

[Baldeagle]

i put half a quart in it is that enough to cause damage? Ur scaring me here the dipstick read at just below half so i added oil. do you think half-quart to a quart is enough to cause aeration?

Aeration? No. Absolutely no need for any concern! For aeration to occur the engine normally needs to be over filled by at least 1.5 to 2 quarts. You were just at the full level on the dip stick. That's normal.

For aeration to occur the oil level in the oil pan must be so high it touches the spinning crankshaft, at which point the spinning crankshaft whips the oil into a froth, sort of like a blender. You certainly don’t want to over fill the engine with oil, but even if the oil is above the “full” mark on the dip stick by a little bit (½ quart), you are totally fine. It will not hurt anything. Bear in mind when the engine is running, the oil level in the oil pan drops because the oil pump has circulated a lot of it into the engine.

I’ve always liked the idea of keeping the oil level at the full mark. That extra quart (above the low mark on the dip stick) increases the oil volume in the engine by about 25% (going from ≈4 qts to ≈5 qts is a 25% increase). That's a lot. That helps to dilute contaminants and assists in cooling very slightly.

Here’s something else to ease your nerves. Car engineers know most people check their oil immediately after running it - like when getting gasoline. If the oil is a little low, that is when drivers add their half-quart (or whatever) to keep the level at the top mark on the dip stick. The problem with that is that low level reading might be wrong because a lot of the oil is still up in the engine. After adding oil, if that person were to let the car sit for an hour and let most of the oil drip back down into the oil pan, the oil level might read above the full mark. Happens ALL the time. Engineers know it. Being a little over the full line is totally okay. That oil level is still not close to the crankshaft.

 

[nayr14]

If the oil is not above the full mark on the stick, you have nothing to worry about. because it is not overfilled. But you also have no reason to worry if the oil is below that mark, but above the add mark.
You really only need to add oil, when it is below the add mark. That is what that mark is for.

This! Do not add oil unless you're below the lower dot. The engine shouldn't burn any noticeable amount of oil. When you get an oil change they won't necessarily fill it up to full.

It's also a waste of oil to fill it to the top if you're engine is working fine (AKA not burning oil).

If you notice a drop in oil level get it checked out. That oil is going somewhere it shouldn't!!!