Need help, oil level

RBSilvy85 · January 16, 2016

Heu guys so I was just checkig my oil level and it seems a bit low. You have the two dimples on the stick and my oil level was just above the lowest dimple on the sticks. I've driven about 7,000 miles since last oil change with about 20% left on the olm. My question is given the level it is at now how many quarts of oil have I burnt up? I've been suspecting that my truck burns oil, it seems to blow out more white exhaust smoke then I've ever been accustomed to in past vehicles I've owned. If it's an issue I want to bring it to the dealerrships attention before my warrAnty is up. I have 12,500 miles total on it now.

jreyes0a39oz · January 16, 2016

what is your procedure of checking the oil? and are you doing it at a level surface?

HondaHawkGT · January 17, 2016

I have 16,000 on my truck and haven't burned any. These trucks do leave behind a lot of soot. Can't say I've seen any smoke outside of first turning over. You might be losing some through the PCV system. In the summer time, my oil catch can will catch as much as 6 to 8 ounces of oil between 5,500 mile oil change intervals. I've also noticed that the dipstick reading gets thrown off quite a bit by the truck being just a little unlevel. A leveling kit will throw the reading off a bit too.

If you are in fact burning a bit of oil, you'll have to have the dealer monitor it before they can do anything. Unfortunately, it's industry standard these days that an engine can burn up to a quart per 1000 miles and still be considered "normal".

Oldcabin01 · January 17, 2016

Probably about a quart. I was below the markers and had to add 2 quarts. The first quart brought me to the lower marker.

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spectaculous · January 17, 2016

Make sure you give the oil enough time to settle back down into the pan before you check it. Give it at least a minute. It is not low if it registers above the bottom dimple. If it really is that low I would add half a quart and then wait and see how high the level comes up from there. Are you sure you added enough oil at the last change to bring it up to the 2nd dimple? You should be putting in 8 quarts to get it there...

RBSilvy85 · January 17, 2016

I checked the oil level when the truck hadn't been ran for about 4 or 5 hours. The truck was on a level service, however I do have a 2" leveling kit on it. Im still using my free oil changes from the dealer as of now but I did check after they did last oul change to make sure they filled it correctly. I know a quart of oil or a little less isnt the end of the world, but if it's an issue I want to bring it to the dealers attention before it gets worse. I would really like to keep this truck for 10 years or so.

RBSilvy85 · January 17, 2016

I mean in sitting parked right now with the engine running and the truck has been driven for the last hour and I still see white smoke coming from the exhaust.

Eddie 70 · January 17, 2016

It almost sounds like that is moisture in the exhaust that you are seeing. I drive mine about 38 miles to work. At about mile 30 there is a stop sign. On cold mornings I see white smoke but it is just like the moisture you see when you exhale in cold weather. If it's smoke, it will hang around for quite a while when it comes out of the exhaust pipe. If it is moisture as I suspect, it will dissipate much quicker, depending on how cold it is.