Engine Oil Level Check

[furtherrad]

Well,
I've happened upon a strange problem. A couple of days ago, I
checked my engine oil on a slightly off-level driveway after a 170
mile highway drive. What I found was that the dipstick wasn't
showing hardly a drop of oil. After checking, re-checking, and
checking again after the car had cooled for about 1 and a half hours,
I got the same very low reading. I added approximately a quart and
that brought the level up to the full mark on the dipstick. Now
yesterday, I checked it in a completely flat garage surface and I got
the mark to show a great deal over-full! As in the quart I added had
actually not been needed. I drained the quart this morning. Now I'm
wondering if a slight off-level surface would give such an erroneous
reading on was there perhaps a pocket not allowing the oil to fill to
the level? Any input is greatly appreciated. I've got a '91 Legacy
EJ22T U.S. spec. Thanks,
Andrew Mouser

[Kam]

Don't worry about this peculiarity. I'm on my third Subaru (1.8GL and 2x GT wagons) and this happens on all of them. i have found that despite the service manual saying that the difference between the low mark and full mark on the dipstick is half a litre, in practice it's actually very little. Don't ask me why I just know that this is the case. I have on occasion panicked at the low oil level and topped up only to discover massive over fill! As long as you know you're not leaking oil anywhere and not smoking it away then don't worry about it too much. Just check the level a few times before actually filling up.

[axfinn_20902]

Andrew: I have the same thing. My only advice would be to do what I
do. Only check level in the morning before you drive off. I don't
know why but it seems that the oil stays in the 2.2 for a long time
before it fully drains into the pan.

[dfullerton]

Had the same thing on my car

[paul.travers@vodafone.co.]

My 93 turbo wagon never reads very accurately - rather than an even line it
is a bit smeared and hard to get an accurate level.
Even in the morning.


Paul
Auckland NZ

[Douglas Hancock]

Happens to me to. When I first drove my car it was parked on a hill for I don’t know how long. Started it and smoke pissed out of it. Now there is nothing. It is always parked on level ground most of the time now.

[sean john]

I have owned two Subaru's, and this seems to be the
case for me. It looks like a dry sump system or
sumthing by the way it acts when trying to check the
oil level. beware for people who have their oil
changed by those oil change shops. They tend to
overfill the oil. This can lead to leaks in your
engine.

Nue
95 SVX