Quote:
Originally Posted by ConnClark
As far as lubrication goes the minimum level is a matter of whether the oil sump sucks in any air while the engine is operating. Other things need to be considered though. Oil also acts like a coolant to some degree. Less of it means it will get hotter because it will spend less time sitting in the pan cooling off. The hotter it gets the sooner its lubrication properties will break down.
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All true points.
As far as the original question goes, the safe operating range of oil level is anywhere between the two marks on the dipstick. You do not need to fill it to the full mark every time. People do this because some cars, like yours, use oil and it allows them a certain amount of time between checks.
The owners manual will tell you how much oil it takes to get from the low mark to full mark, it is typically 1qt but can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
You can also run below the low mark, but it is not recommended. If you continually drive your car at low RPMs, I would say that you can get away with less oil, because it will be pumped up to the cylinder head at a lower rate, so drainback time to the sump is not an issue.
However on some engines, drainback can be an issue during prolonged high RPM usage. The sump can essentially empty itself into the heads faster than gravity can drain the oil back down.