Adding engine oil

[LTD]

Driving home this evening, my dashboard threw up a "Add 1.0 litre of oil at the next service station" warning.

No problem as I have the oil here at home.

However, it got me thinking ...

Should I be adding cool oil into a hot engine with already hot oil as the warning suggests that I should ?

Am I better waiting until the car goes cool again and then adding the oil ?

Your views, as always, are welcome to this.

 

[Dieselman]

Just chuck it in whatever.

 

[Stratman]

Add half a litre to start with. The nag screen is notoriously pessimistic.

 

[D-18]

Driving home this evening, my dashboard threw up a "Have your Butler add 1.0 litre of oil at the next service station" warning.

See above - The S class warnings should be a bit more upmarket

 

[brigadier]

I've seen cracked heads when adding cold coolant to overheated engine, but never about oil.

 

[st4]

The fact its warning you when warm its low on oil is a sign it does.

Why not warm it up, find some place level, and use the dipstick. Add more oil if need be. I bet a litre will be fine.

if not, pour some oil all over the wheel arches, will rust proof it

 

[markjay]

As others said, I doubt that it makes any difference.

But if in doubt, why not just play it safe and add the oil when the engine is cold... this way you won't have to worry about it.

But if you are after a purely theoretic and academic discussion, then you have come to right place - we're known for it

 

[LTD]

Why not warm it up, find some place level, and use the dipstick.

I drive an S-Class. Everything is level. It's what it does.

not, pour some oil all over the wheel arches, will rust proof it

I know what you are. It starts with the letter 'c'

 

[jefrs]

a) I very much doubt the engine has over-heated. Not?

b) it is an infernal combustion engine and as such designed to cope with some seriously high temperature gradients inside it. It can stand the thermal shock of a litre of tepid oil being poured into it.

 

[LTD]

No overheating issues at all. Just the reminder.

My query was due to not knowing what was best and my concern about adding cool oil to an already hot environment. Would the oil's very rapid temperature change throw it outwith the boundaries of it's specification leading to a potential problem ?

At 130k miles, I'd rather find out ...

As it stands, my Mobil 1 is now in the boot and will be topped up at lunchtime tomorrow. On the flat, in a car-park, when the engine is cooled down.

I'll put it in the engine - I can't find the "whatever" Dieselman suggests that I fling it into

 

[jefrs]

The engine normally operates somewhere around 90°C. So chucking in room temperature oil (today = 30°C) won't hurt it.

Think about it, the combustion chambers get a lot hotter than that, the engine punts out a huge amount of power, and it's not made of glass.