about to do my first oil topoff; 1000 kms in a month and the oil level had dropped from the top full mark to just below the highest of the three dimples/holes;
my question is, should i top it off now or wait till the stick is closer to the bottom, as the manual suggests; if i top it now, apprx how much oil to get from highest dimple to the full line?; i cant imagine it would take much to fill it fomr here but i dont want to overfill; thanks in advance;

 

The more often you check and refill your oil, the better.

As soon as you notice it is low, pour some in.

Theres no real technique to it, just pour some oil in and check the dipstick, and keep doing it until it is back at the top line, being careful not to overfill. I'm guessing your about half a quart low.

The manual would say: check your oil everyday, but people wouldn't really like to hear this car is so high of maintenance.

 

Just check it once a week when you are about to wash it if you are as picky as me. I keep it topped off and most of the time slighly more than full just for good measures.

 

Check this out:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...7-04-1438b.pdf

 

go48; great link; thanks

 

Sure, anytime.

 

the first dimple from FULL is about .125 qt IIRC :p

 

For the new dipstick, can you just waltz in and request a new one?

 

^i pretty much did just that... :p

 

Well, you can certainly do that, but it will likely be at the descretion of the dealer if they will replace it gratis. Best to tell them you are having difficulty checking the oil because you can't see the oil on the stick.

 

Yesterday, my8's motor oil was about half full, so I poured half bottle of oil into the engine. Then I checked the dipstick......Holy Cow!!!! The oil level was all the way up!!! I overfilled my 8 with half bottle oil?! I checked the dipstick again few times, and it showed the same.

I knew it must be something wrong with the dipstick reading, so I pulled it out again and twisted 180 degree and put it back and read it again! Wala!!!! It showed me 80% full, which make more sense.

Then I realized that the design of 8's dipstick is not straight, but a bit curve. So I wonder that you have to put it in a correct orientation in order to read the right oil level.