followthadollar

i need help from you guys... my engine oil dip stick is fully covered in oil and makes it impossible to get a reading..
i have an oil leak coming from the rear valve cover which i will patch up soon.. in the meantime i want to be on top of my oil..

Turbobink

iTrader: (2)

Stop checking your oil with the engine running ...

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

Hopefully you're doing the following:

Waiting at least 30 minutes from time you shut car off.
Pull stick and wipe it clean
Re-insert and make sure it's fully seated
Pull stick out again and get a reading

maxima297

And don't check it immediately upon shutting the car off.

Dave H.

iTrader: (5)

or just check it after it sits overnight...

followthadollar

Thank you all .. What is the proper way to check the oil pressure?? Is there a thread for that?

M in KC

You will need a remote pressure indicator as what is installed from the factory is just an idiot light triggered from the pressure sensor near the oil filter housing. The absence of oil icon illuminated on your instrument display would indicate oil pressure within the allowable pressure range or the bulb is burned out.

followthadollar

Ok .. Or I can perform an oil compression test right?

M in KC

It's not really an oil compression test as you can't compress a liquid. It would be a cylinder compression test to evaluate the health of each cylinder compared to a baseline value.

What are you attempting to determine.?

JvG

Unless the oil light flickers at idle, there is not much reason to worry about the oil pressure. Not much you could do much about that anyway.

LJay

My oil pressure sensor was unplugged & I didn't check the dip stick & ended up ruining my engine last year. Now with a new engine, I check my oil religiously.

CS_AR

When in doubt about oil pressure, I use a test kit that I bought at Harbor Freight some years ago. I see the same unit is now less than $27.

Be careful to use a fitting for pressure testing that is like the sending unit's. IIRC the stock sending unit uses 1/8" British Standard Pipe Thread (BSPT). I don't think I needed an adapter with the kit that I purchased.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engine-...kit-98949.html

I use the following socket when working with an oil pressure sensor.

bumpypickle

iTrader: (1)

15 mins after engine shut off and you should get a decent reading. As for oil pressure, I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure your topping off your fluids. I check each fluid at the beginning of the week and refill as necessary.

followthadollar

Very good tips thanks everyone..

JvG

L.Jay, I remember your problem . No oil light at all, and not checking levels.

I mentioned flickering at idle...... yes, I assume he has a functionin oil light. Maybe I should not assume anything. Thanks for pointing that out. Sometimes I forget how old these cars are.

bumpypickle

iTrader: (1)

Malfunctioning light or not, it's bad to let the oil get to the point where it triggers the indicator. Besides, these are old cars and almost all of them that haven't been cared for will leak oil, like most older cars. It should already be mechanically inferred when buying a vehicle with age like this that you would need to check fluids frequently

LJay

Yeah I know. Accidents happen. It's my first car but I've learned a lot since then about it. I fixed everything (with the help of the .org) & now there's no check engine light, recently passed smog so now I can enjoy my car!