If a quart low on oil is not sufficient to trigger the low oil warning, then I wouldn't think that it would be that big a deal. If the oil level was that critical, then the low oil warning trigger would be set to a higher point.
Your inisights here are good, but allow me to raise a question.
You said:
"Your dealer most probably checked the coolant level and either added some or it was still full. As far as the dealer only adding 5 quarts, all they did was short change you a quart. It did no damage."
Really, it did no damage? How are you so sure of this. It may not have done damage noticeable to the naked eye or ear, but I have spent my career working in a mechanical related field. I am inclined to think opposite for the following reasons:
1. Less oil equals more friction, which induces greater heat.
2. Proper oil levels are vital in terms of engine longetivity.
3. Also most engine wear occurs within the first few minutes of turning it over, if this is a city car, that could be a frequent event, maybe every mile for three thousand miles, equaling 3000 times!
This is just a small sample of points which allow me to object to your rapid conclusion posted at an earlier date.
Running a QT low of oil is NOT harmful. There is plenty of oil in the engine and pan for lubrication. The oil pump is constantly pumping oil to the needed areas. Being only 1qt low there is still sufficient oil in the pan for the pump to do its job. If you noticed on your oil dip stick you have 2 lines, a minimum line and a full line. the Full mark is 6qts. As long as the oil level is between those 2 marks all is well. That is the safe area. Once the level falls below the minimum line then what you are saying comes into play. If it were dangerous to be 1qt low, warnings about this would be included in the owners manual.
You can object all you want, you've been overruled.
Running a QT low of oil is NOT harmful. There is plenty of oil in the engine and pan for lubrication. The oil pump is constantly pumping oil to the needed areas. Being only 1qt low there is still sufficient oil in the pan for the pump to do its job. If you noticed on your oil dip stick you have 2 lines, a minimum line and a full line. the Full mark is 6qts. As long as the oil level is between those 2 marks all is well. That is the safe area. Once the level falls below the minimum line then what you are saying comes into play. If it were dangerous to be 1qt low, warnings about this would be included in the owners manual.
You can object all you want, you've been overruled.
That is fine if running low 1 QT is ok, but the manual says 6.5 QT, and the lady said she had 5 quarts. Let me do the math for you 6.5 Quarts - 5Quarts = 1.5 Quarts. You know what this means; she was 1.5 Quarts low, chief. The stick could very well show full at six quarts, but it doesn't seem a little a strange that the manual spells out 6.5 quarts, Judge?
As far as trusting GM to put any sort of warning in a manual, that is up to you, but it says 6.5 for a reason.
Just do us all a favor and don't deal in absolutes from now on. Especially when you don't know what your talking about. Keep the integrity.
if any damage was done to the engine by running it 1-1.5 qts low then believe me you would have already known about it by now
overfilling is actually way worse than being a quart or so low
I agree with the Judge. She was in the acceptable oil level for the engine and as long as the low oil light doesn't come on then it's not doing any damage, although if I noticed my car was down a quart I'd be sure to fill it asap but that's just me. As far as judge not knowing what he's talking about your dead wrong. He's provided helpful information, tips and advice to every member on this forum and is a valuable asset to us all on this board, so watch your step or you will be found in contempt of court!!!
On a related note, my coolant dipstick has always had the "gunk" on it from day one and also always comes out bone dry, with no coolant registering on the stick ever!!! Now, my car obviously has coolant cause the car doesn't overheat ever, the temp is always a steady 190 degrees and shows on the temp gauge on the dash one notch below the halfway point always once warmed up and doesn't budge. So my question is what gives?? Should I add a 50/50 mix of water and dexcool till it registers on the dipstick, leave it be, or have the coolant system flushed out??
On a related note, my coolant dipstick has always had the "gunk" on it from day one and also always comes out bone dry, with no coolant registering on the stick ever!!! Now, my car obviously has coolant cause the car doesn't overheat ever, the temp is always a steady 190 degrees and shows on the temp gauge on the dash one notch below the halfway point always once warmed up and doesn't budge. So my question is what gives?? Should I add a 50/50 mix of water and dexcool till it registers on the dipstick, leave it be, or have the coolant system flushed out??
That gunk is supposed to be there. Your coolant dipstick has a series of holes in it. It also has an up arrow and a down arrow. The coolant level should be between the 2 arrows. If you are not seeing any wetness on the dipstick you are low. I would add the suggested water to dexcool ratio to the reservoir to the full level which is the down arrow. 50/50 is the normal ratio. Depending on your climate you can adjust the the dexcool percentage. The percentage should be listed on the container.
As far as flushing the cooling system, it's not necessary. Follow the suggested maintenance time frame for flushing.
However by referring to this quote from a know it all: "Just do us all a favor and don't deal in absolutes from now on. Especially when you don't know what your talking about. Keep the integrity."
Since I don't deal in absolutes and I don't have a clue as to what I state. It may be wise to disregard what the owner manual states or what education respondents on here got when trained in the building of trucks and cars and rely on know it all's who chose to dispute what the builder of the car suggests. If you follow that logic, then if your coolant level is low, your car my overheat and your engine will lock up. Whatever you do, don't let your coolant level fall below the full mark.
On a side note, a variable on approximate oil quantity has to do with the size of the filter used. Some oil filters hold a greater volume of oil. That is one reason why in the manual it states...."capacities are approximate." After changing the oil and running the car and shutting it down, you recheck the level. If more needs added then at that time the adjustment is made. I have always used 6.0 qts of oil at 5K changes using Mobil1 and K&N filters and the oil level remains full from one change to the next. In this instance 6.5 qts would be overfilled.
But what do I know...
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Last edited by GTO JUDGE : 11-11-2007 at 03:01 PM.
That is fine if running low 1 QT is ok, but the manual says 6.5 QT, and the lady said she had 5 quarts. Let me do the math for you 6.5 Quarts - 5Quarts = 1.5 Quarts. You know what this means; she was 1.5 Quarts low, chief. The stick could very well show full at six quarts, but it doesn't seem a little a strange that the manual spells out 6.5 quarts, Judge?
As far as trusting GM to put any sort of warning in a manual, that is up to you, but it says 6.5 for a reason.
Just do us all a favor and don't deal in absolutes from now on. Especially when you don't know what your talking about. Keep the integrity.
5 qts. in the pan and another .5 qt in the filter = 5.5 qts.
So........... only 1 qt. low. THIS is absolute!
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