Oil level resistance

[maanma]

Oil level is one place to get fuel savings. More oil means more default resistance to engine.

Basicly engine producer has given accepted max-min level of oils. Basicly producer would accept continuous min level run.

Double saver is oil pressure warning, but it is a good idea check oil level often if you try. Fill a bit more if engine get more noisy.

Using 0W oils and middle oil level I have achieved about 10% savings were achieved when used in city short runs of 6 mi (10 km).

Has anyone else tested oil level effect?

[serialk11r]

Crankshaft shouldn't be churning the oil in the sump with a full sump. No gain besides slightly faster oil warmup, but you have a higher risk of damaging the engine during turns.

[maanma]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

you have a higher risk of damaging the engine during turns.

Could you please explain why is that and how it will realize?

[RedDevil]

The oil pump sucks in oil near the bottom of the carter, but if you run very low it may draw air instead when you are on an incline or through a corner where the oil slopes to the sides. Air in the oil lines is not good, the pump should draw oil all the time.

If the oil level is high the pump will have to work ever so slightly less hard because of the fractionally higher pressure at its intake.

0W oils do save some, especially in colder climates. I see lower idling when cold and slower warm-up due to less friction.

[Vwbeamer]

a great deal depends on the particular design of the engine. You can't throw a universal statment out there like both of you did and have it apply to all engines. On some engines it may help to run less oil, and some it may not.

I run my Toyota half qt low. that's because that's where a 5 qt jugs puts the level at and it doesn't use oil so i don't worry about it. I consider that a better option then putting 6 qts in, which a lot of people do. course I could put a half qt in, but then I would have a half qt of oil laying around.As long as it's between the safe marks , it's good.

[redneck]

.

Y’all funny.

Running low oil levels is just asking for problems that can be easily avoided. As mentioned, turns, slopes and odd angles can starve the pump momentarily leading to failure.

Low oil levels concentrate containment’s which lead to increased wear.

Low oil levels increase oil temps which can lead to the oil chemically breaking down prematurely, thus not providing the necessary protection required.

Use the correct viscosity recommended by the manufacturer. They pay engineers to design, test and build their engines.

Machining tolerances and heat determine viscosity required.

Using a incorrect viscosity can cause metal to metal contact thus shortening engine life.

Engine’s are expensive last time I checked.

Truck and heavy equipment fleet owners take oil samples and use Oil analysis reports to determine when oil changes are needed and if abnormal chemical or metals levels are detected.



Y’all using Oil analysis...???

No...???


Uh Oh... 😳






>

.

[maanma]

So you do not trust engine producer to be capable to define low level line.

[redneck]

.

The low level line by the manufacture is there to indicate to the end user that “Maintance” is required to avoid potential damage.




>

.

[Piotrsko]

And for those who like my sister that don't believe in maintaining, they add a low oil level light which probably adds $10 to the price of her car.

Must be totally not necessary.

[JSH]

Like Redneck said - use the oil type, viscosity, and quantity of oil specified by the manufacturer. We spend more than a year testing before changing an engine oil and everything about the lubrication system is designed to match the specified oil. Too heavy, too light, or wrong type can easily destroy an engine.

In controlled testing dropping the viscosity of the engine oil one step is good for about 1.5% fuel economy savings. (For example going from 10W-30 to 5W-30)