Oil Level
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 90
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From: mid michigan
Oil Level
Hi Everyone, Im New To The Forum.
Recently I Purchased A Red 01 A4 (21k) From A Private (orig) Owner. Via The Forum, I Learned That The 01 Was Proned To Burn Oil. I've Monitored The Oil Level Since Learning Of This Issue.
My Question Is When Is The Oil Level Most Acurate, Before Start Up Or After Running The Engine For A While.
The Oil Stick Reads Full Before Start Up But, Shows A Quart Down After Running The Engine For Several Minutes.
Recently I Purchased A Red 01 A4 (21k) From A Private (orig) Owner. Via The Forum, I Learned That The 01 Was Proned To Burn Oil. I've Monitored The Oil Level Since Learning Of This Issue.
My Question Is When Is The Oil Level Most Acurate, Before Start Up Or After Running The Engine For A While.
The Oil Stick Reads Full Before Start Up But, Shows A Quart Down After Running The Engine For Several Minutes.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
A quart down after running sounds a bit much... but anything is possible. When you shut the engine down all the oil drains back into the pan except for the residual film on coating all the pathways.
I always check my oil in the morning with the engine cold so that it is always consistent.
I always check my oil in the morning with the engine cold so that it is always consistent.
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Originally Posted by rws.1
I always check my oil ... with the engine cold so that it is always consistent.
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I too check my oil when the engine is cold. FYI, the oil consumption problem appeared mostly in manual equipped cars. Not saying it couldn't happen in an auto, but it was not as common.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 401
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From: Sterling Heights MI
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
I too check my oil when the engine is cold. FYI, the oil consumption problem appeared mostly in manual equipped cars. Not saying it couldn't happen in an auto, but it was not as common.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 107
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From: Hockessin DE
I check my oil after I have driven the car and the oil is at operating temp, I shut it off and come back out after about 5 minutes. It let's the oil drain back but the oil is still warm enough to take thermal expansion into account.
True the engine internals only respond to the revs and duration. So, the oil consumption has more to do with driving habits of the "typical" A4 driver versus a "typical" M6 driver. Chevy found more consumption if the engine was held at higher revs longer, like you might do in an M6. The A4 tends to shift the car into lower revs for better fuel consumption, so the engine may exhibit the same oil consumption if driven the same as an M6, but most didn't see those kinds of revs, so there were fewer complaints. This obviously varies with the driver. I tend to have higher consumption due to the 3.15 rear and a need for acceleration. But I've had Porsches with the same level or oil use so I don't see it as a big problem.
True the engine internals only respond to the revs and duration. So, the oil consumption has more to do with driving habits of the "typical" A4 driver versus a "typical" M6 driver. Chevy found more consumption if the engine was held at higher revs longer, like you might do in an M6. The A4 tends to shift the car into lower revs for better fuel consumption, so the engine may exhibit the same oil consumption if driven the same as an M6, but most didn't see those kinds of revs, so there were fewer complaints. This obviously varies with the driver. I tend to have higher consumption due to the 3.15 rear and a need for acceleration. But I've had Porsches with the same level or oil use so I don't see it as a big problem.
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