Car Engine Oil

[Beswad]

If a car engine oil is quater to zero below capacity how much damage can it do to the engine if not filled up to the proper level?

[Toureman]

A lot !

[MantaRay]

No need to worry unless the oil level has run well down from the minimum mark and the engine has started to sound clattery.

[TWR]

Has the loss been sudden?

[jacksprat16]

and your driving a vehicle??

[Postdog]

I was gonna say a lot too - from experience unfortunately

[carlton23]

Hmmm, not nice when the big ends poke through the block.

[jacksprat16]

i saw a woman putting air into an obviously soft rear tyre. she'd got no idea what to do, it was a meter that you pre-set digitally. she thought air should come out before you put it on the valve ! she couldn't hear any air going in so kept pressing the increase in pressure, when i eventually lost patience waiting to do mine i went to help her and found that the tyre she was working on had 93 lbs in ! i corrected this,and when i checked the offside tyre there was 19 in, but she said it looked alright thanked me and drove off. it really frightens me to think what's coming towards you on the road these days more than years ago .so little knowledge.

[carlton23]

Yes Jack, car maintenance should be part of the Driving Test.

[themayor]

GAWD and they let you loose with a lethal weapon. Just ignore the oil level, you will know when their is a major problem. engine will either seize or put a "leg out of bed" (broken connecting road protuding through crankcase wall)

[Beswad]

Thanks to all the replies. It's not my car I'm enquirying but curious to what damage it can do to the engine as I notice a car down my street with a engine oil leakage, whenever it's parked on any spot it left a patch of oil behind.

[Andyvon]

It's not uncommon for engines to leak as tey get older Beswad - like people! My 1984 Golf usually leaves a few dribbles wherever I park, despite all new gaskets and crank seals last year. It's almost 30 years old so it's no surprise. All it's doing is scent marking when it knows another car has been there.

Most owners with an older car keep an eye on the oil level and top it up occasionally. I always change my oil and filter every 2 to 3000 miles but I have to add a littel to top it up once or twice during that time. It just keeps the oil fresh. The worst cars for oil leaks are are the Classic Minis which pee oil all over the place.