Dirt in Engine

[mfn1194]

I hate checking my oil, it seems everytime you check the oil you push dirt into the engine. The oil stick guide is very dirty, and hard to reach and clean without removing the air filter. Any suggetions ? or is this a legitimate concern ?

Also - an old topic, but checking the owners manual. They require a min of 87 octane. And higher octane for improved performance. So, using 87 does not harm engine. They would not have that as min octane if the engine could be harmed.

Thanks

[joe603]

You could get an aftermarket filter...that will give you more room to get the dipstick out. Even still, it's a pain to put back in. They fixed it in the 07 sedan.

Octane question...if you have a sedan, then 87 is fine to use. However, premium will allow the engine's ECU to extract the full HP-potential. This has been a debatable issue, as there isn't much hard data to prove either way.

With the coupe, the manufacture recommends premium...