Dipstick Question, from a dipstick

[Qxxx4]

So since ive owned my Q, i always change my oil on the dot at 5000 kms. Its always super clean, no gas smell, and by about 4000 kms...it loses oil to the point where the dipstick is about 1/4 from H. No worries, i top it up and its relatively stable till the oil change I just keep an eye on it. No leaks that i can see, must be burning oil?

my question is when its at the bottom of the dipstick/empty....how much oil is that? I used abouttttt half a litre filling er back up from the bottom...just curious on the real value and if its at L how bad is it really for your engine

might be a stupid question but hey, what the hell

[fueler]

nah if u can see the oil on the dipstick then you are fine. personally i like mine filled up towards the HIGH level mark. Are you checking it cold or hot? Ive found that it makes a huge difference. Mine reads empty when its cold and reads above full when its hot. The correct way to check the oil is to get the engine to normal operating temp, then park it on a flat surface, turn the engine off and let it chill out for about 10 minutes, THEN check the dipstick.

[Qxxx4]

i check on levelled surface and cold, car sits for at least 30mins before i check then i top up to H.

[QX4ME]

I check the dipstick whenever I want, mostly when it's cold. I always see it at normal level until last weekend when I saw nothing. I drove till temperature needle was about at middle point. Still saw nothing on the dipstick. I assume the oil is too low and added one full bottle (one quart) in. Still saw nothing. I couldn't believe the level was that low. Then I did a complete oil and filter change. I saw the normal level again.

I have no iead why that was. The truck has never been any trouble to me whatsoever. I will check the level more often.

[K03sport]

i check on levelled surface and cold, car sits for at least 30mins before i check then i top up to H.

Do you check it on the first pull or do you check on the 2nd pull?

2nd pull = pull, wipe, insert fully, pull again, check level, insert, done.

[Qxxx4]

4 pulls to be sure.....im THAT guy.

[volp]

now that's thinking with your dipstick jimmy! Had to get that out

[Adnan]

thats quite something...did you ask the mechanic how much oil was drained?

[Qxxx4]

now that's thinking with your dipstick jimmy! Had to get that out

LOL i LOVE those commercials especially since i use castrol

[Mariach]

Alright, So I'm probably gonna get shunned for this one, but I have never done an oil change myself. THERE IS A GOOD REASON I SWEAR!!!

My dad bought the pathy new in '01, and the dealer offered us a free oil/filter for life, as long as we owned the vehicle. Knowing it was gonna come to me in a few years, we snagged it. Honeslty, it has paid for itself. I think at the time they threw it in ( back when it was a buyers economy). I feel like a dipstick because I never really do any work myself on the pathy, aside from minor things . but the time just isn't there anymore since I finished my degree.

Is it ok that i'm still using original Nissan oil? or should I switch to a synthetic or oil designed for an older engine?

[Qxxx4]

nothing wrong with that.....until a few months ago id go to quick lube places as i never had time to do it. Then id go to my friends shop, hes a mechanic at ford, throw my q on the hoist and we get 'er done in 15mins and check all the other things while it drains. Seeing how hes usually on a tight schedule I plan on doing it myself just for fun. I want to get some wheel ramps to make it real easy and fast but all i see are cheap even PLASTICKY ones.

Tools are expensive when you do things yourself.I was looking at torque wrenches and the cheapest ones i found were about $60.....

Eventually Ill have all these tools though, at the end of the day, Its good to do everything yourself...well.....the easy things. but if your getting it for free, why not!

I had a good experience going to Mr Lube, but those are hit and miss. Both locations i went to were great EXCEPT the fact that there are missing screws on my skid plate now, i demanded they replace them and they said they did the last time...and didnt...and thats why i really dont want to go back. thats what did it for me

[fueler]

you dont need any ramps or jacks.... the Q sits high enough to where u can confortably change the oil with the Q jus sitting on the ground

and you dont need a torque wrench for an oil change!! i do all sorts of s*** on the Q and i have never owned a torque wrench.

[Qxxx4]

Im a man of accuracy. I go by the book. torque is a big deal to me, i mean, my tire pressure is exact to 0.1 psi. My background is Portuguese but i feel pretty damn German.

Im also the guy that would torque it too much trying to be all safe and id definately get things stuck/stripped....not cool. I dont wanna be that idiot, so torque wrench is one of my fav tools

[Densetsu]

Different Pathy gen, but when I do a change I always fill it up right to the high mark. 5L of dino oil.

3000km later, I'll do a check and the dipstick will be quarter inch or so below low. Not too much, but enough that every time I start it the oil pressure light will flicker on and off for a second or two after I start the Pathy. I'll put in another liter and be good until the next oil change.

Every car I've had goes through a little bit of oil, and it's normal behaviour, though the Pathy has been the most aggressive of the bunch. This is the first vehicle I've had that burns off more than a liter of oil between oil changes. Just as long as you're aware of it, it shouldn't be a big deal.

And regarding ramps... I haven't found a good set out there. Crappy Tire has a few different models of Rhino Ramps in the $50 range... they're solid ramps, but I wish they had more clearance than they did.

[SnowSurfLax]

you dont need any ramps or jacks.... the Q sits high enough to where u can confortably change the oil with the Q jus sitting on the ground

and you dont need a torque wrench for an oil change!! i do all sorts of s*** on the Q and i have never owned a torque wrench.

Yeah, I used to be like you. Then I rebuilt an engine down to the block. Torque is very important most of the time. Too little or too much are equally bad. Frankly, you should follow the FSM guidelines 99% of the time.

[Qxxx4]

[fueler]

better torque that cowbell..... i got a fever and the only cure is MORE COWBELL!!!

[AJRK]

I changed the oil myself in the QX4 once.. the skid plates were a pain in the a**!! Do you guys not have the skid plates or something?

I have been changing oil in my Explorer and my mom's Camry since I was like 14 though.. those cars are both really easy.

PS- Nice thread title Brian

[SnowSurfLax]

better torque that cowbell..... i got a fever and the only cure is MORE COWBELL!!!

Q-Bell man, Q-Bell.

[K03sport]

Qxxxx - if you don't want to buy those plasticy ramps, then just get some 2x8s at your local hardware store. cut them into some 4' long pieces and put a 45* edge on one end.

It will only give you about an 1.5" raise, but that might be enough to get yourself under there and work comfortable.

BTW, those plasticy ramps are available in two sizes. I have a pair and each ramp can support 2,000lbs 4K per pr). There is the heavy duty one that supports 3,000lbs each (6k per pr).

The 2K lb ones will support an 8,000 GVW car/truck because you are only supporting the front or half of the load. The rest is on th rear wheels. The 3k lb ones will support a 12,000 GVW truck. I think you would be just fine with the "light" duty ones.

[joestrummer77]

Ummm....QXXX4 guy, you DO use a torque wrench then, correct? Which type do you use/have? How many ft-lbs do you bang out on your pan bolt?

[Chuck Tribolet]

The skid plate is no big deal. I use a deep socket to loosen the bolts a little,then take them out with a Makita right-angle cordless drill., drop the plate,The screws go back in with the Makita, and get a final tightening with theratchet.

[joestrummer77]

No reply, of course, and for good reason, right QXXXX4 guy? Gotta call you on this one. Read thru your own threads from the start and you'll catch yourself on this one. You state you are "...that guy..." torque torque torque torque, torque everything, but you have no torque wrench ...huh? This stuff seems to be a nutty trend with your posts. Your flair for the embellishment is exceed only by your lack of ________ (insert any motor related knowledge here).

I'd say the title of your post, although initially intended as self-deprecation, is apt indeed. I doubt your could taste the difference between olive oil and 30 weight.

Do you REALLY own a QX-4?

[fueler]

[Qxxx4]

yeesh im feelin the hate here. Never did i say i was very knowledgeable of anything, or at least i didnt intend it, i mean im asking how much oil is actually shown on the dipstick..pretty sure its a dumb question, reason for the title.

Since your so interested in my posts im pretty damn surprised you havent read the many times that Ive said I go to a ford dealership after hours where my good friend is a licensed mechanic and he has all the tools needed, including a torque wrench...yes ford mechanics actually use them, Im surprised too! I go there since its convenient and him being much more knowledgeable than me, he can inspect everything else as well. I would like to start doing my oil changes at home soon, but im 21, and live at home with my parents...a 1 car garage filled with a land rover, and a 1.5 car, angled driveway filled with my q and dads frontier. I will be moving away for 4 months for a job but Ill be back soon, but may move permanently away from my buddy, so i would like to start into doing my own work on my own car.

The only automotive experience I have are 3 courses in high school, where i did basic stuff like brake jobs, oil changes, thermostat replacements, minor welding, spark plugs, you know the basic stuff. It was on beater cars so i could screw up (and i did a few times).

I really dont want to do anything crazy aside from the simple stuff, as this is my only car, and its worth a lot to me, and i NEED it to go places, so i cant have it break on me.

Sorry im no gearhead like you guys, and i NEVER intended to act like i know more than anyone on anything on this forum. Considering your post count, youve got balls talking sh*t. Its completely fine though, online criticism is hilarious, because its pointless really, since you dont even know me.

This forum was awesome a year ago, what the f*ck is going on, this is my second diss this month. The first dude, called my Q rice because I like LED's (and I have every right being in electronics engineering) then a week later, is asking for information on LED conversions....

so joestrummer77....relax. We really dont need hostility on this forum, I got sick of a forum like this because it was filled with pricks.

cheers