Checking oil help

[WadiaAbushanab]

Hello. I have a 1980 Fiat spider 2000 and it leaks oil so I constantly have to add more. But I struggle knowing how much oil it actually has in it. When it’s cold and I check it, it always shows that it is full and often over full, but that can’t be right, because it leaks. So I’m assuming you are supposed to let it run for a while, then check it correct?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

The oil level should be checked with the engine cold. The oil level should be somewhere between the two marks on the dipsticks, and if yours is showing higher than that, you likely have too much oil and this won't help the oil leak problem.

How much oil is the engine leaking, and can you tell from where? If it's just a few drips here and there, this is "kinda normal" for a Fiat spider and many of us just live with it. Totally different story if you routinely have a puddle of oil under the car.

-Bryan

[WadiaAbushanab]

I believe it’s leaking from where the transmission meets the engine. And I’m not too sure how much it leaks, but when I leave it for 10
Min there will be quite a few drops for a short amount of time. I just don’t believe the oil level that the dipstick is showing. It’s been sitting for 2 weeks and it should have almost no oil, but the dip stick says it’s fine.

[calvinconrad]

is the oil that drips clean or dirty?

[davidbruce]

Many years ago a mechanic acquaintance gave his tenage son a Toyota Celica in reasonable used condition. He warned him that it went through oil so to be sure to check the level when he filled up. About 2 weeks later the engine seized on the highway 100 miles from home. After an expensive tow home the dad asked if he had been checking the oil. The kid said he checked the dipstick and it always shows lots of oil. After a few more questions it was determined the kid would stop for gas, start pumping, pull the stick and look at it, see lots of oil and presume all was good. He missed the part about giving the oil a chance to drain back, wiping the stick and rechecking. I make a habit of checking the oil after it has sat for at least a few hours and preferably overnight. I will pull the stick, wipe it and put it back in, pull it and check the level on both sides of the stick. I do this a couple of times. I find sometimes there can be residual oil in the tube particularly one with a curve or two in it giving a false reading. I may be anal but I get accurate results and know exactly where I stand. My .02$

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I believe it’s leaking from where the transmission meets the engine.

That's usually the rear engine oil seal, or the transmission front seal. If it's the transmission seal that's leaking, you might want to check your transmission oil level in case that's what's leaking.

I just don’t believe the oil level that the dipstick is showing. It’s been sitting for 2 weeks and it should have almost no oil, but the dip stick says it’s fine.

These engines hold 5 quarts of oil, and the difference between the "Min" and "Max" marks on the dipstick is about one quart. If you were leaking a quart of oil, you see a puddle of oil under your car a yard or more in diameter. Small drops are not going to show up as differences on the dipstick, as the engine likely doesn't leak at the same rate whether it's running or sitting.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I make a habit of checking the oil after it has sat for at least a few hours and preferably overnight. I will pull the stick, wipe it and put it back in, pull it and check the level on both sides of the stick. I do this a couple of times. I find sometimes there can be residual oil in the tube particularly one with a curve or two in it giving a false reading. I may be anal but I get accurate results and know exactly where I stand. My .02$

I do the same thing. Check after sitting overnight, remove the dipstick, wipe clean, reinsert and remove and examine the level where the oil goes all the way around the dipstick in an even coating. As davidbruce points out, it's easy to be fooled by seeing oil up high on the dipstick that got there only by scrapping the side of the tube as you pulled the dipstick out.

So we're both anal...!

-Bryan
PS: The ultimate test would be to drain the oil and see how much you have. Don't forget what's in the filter, and assume one more quart of oil left in the engine that doesn't drain out very fast.

[davidbruce]

I believe it’s leaking from where the transmission meets the engine. And I’m not too sure how much it leaks, but when I leave it for 10
Min there will be quite a few drops for a short amount of time. I just don’t believe the oil level that the dipstick is showing. It’s been sitting for 2 weeks and it should have almost no oil, but the dip stick says it’s fine.

That's usually the rear engine oil seal, or the transmission front seal. If it's the transmission seal that's leaking, you might want to check your transmission oil level in case that's what's leaking.

Both of those seals are above the oil level at rest so will only leak when running and for a short time after shutting off. What drips out is the oil that was flung around inside the bell housing while it was running. When these seals leak the oil tends to be flung around by the rotating components. If it gets bad enough the oil could eventually contaminate and ruin your clutch disc.

[bobplyler]

I had a Corvair once. Never had to change the oil. I figured a quart a week was fresh enough.

[WadiaAbushanab]

Thanks to everyone who replied and gave suggestions. I always do wipe the dipstick but I’ll mess around with it and just be careful. Thanks!