Quick and simple Car Help?(Oil)

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 9:38 am

Ok, oil light came on so i gotta add oil, well what kind do I get? I have no idea whats in it right now.

Car is a 96 Nissan Altima, thanks

p2ii · Post by **p2ii** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 9:55 am

10w/30

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 9:56 am

Should be on in your glovebox.

Probably just 10-40 though in the summertime, 30 in the winter.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 9:57 am

Hi YARDofSTUF

Probably 10W30...however its best to check your manual.

If not available, phone a Dealer and ask them, you could also check your Door Jams for a Sticker from the last Oil Change. They usually put one on somewhere their.

Who knows they might have been using a Synthetic??? Unlikely But!

regards

minir

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:08 am

Change the oil.....Depends on how hot it is where you live as to using 10-30 or 10-40..imho..

Do what the others suggested...and check the manual and see what it says. If you going to wait a few days to change it....just add whatever to get by...

If your light came on, it's probably pretty low or.....it's set to light when you get so many miles. Some companies do this so you have to take it to them to get it shut off....PVC valves, wires, ect get inspected and replaced before they shut it off.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:21 am

Ya the oil level is low i'm just adding oil, it does need to be changed but i gotta make that appointment later.

gonna go look for a sticker and my manual.

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:29 am

I'd do a complete oil flush and use Mobil1 Synthetic....I did it on suggestion from the Altimas forum that I belong too, and the car runs much better cuz of it....but you can't just drain the old oil and fill it with Mobil1, you have to do a complete flush first.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:33 am

Yardy, oil lights and temp lights are commonly called "Idiot Lights", due to the fact that when they come on, often times the damage has been done...

Get that car serviced! Pronto! And remember to check the oil, water, tranny fluid, washer fluid, and air in the tires, every other fill up...

PS. As a note, when you have the oil changed, be sure to ask the attendent to change the air in your tires... Stale air will decrease your gas mileage!

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:34 am

checked car and manual, nothing on what kind to use.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:37 am

ok guys ok ok ok LOL the oil light means its getting low, i know this, and i know oil is important, its going in to be serviced in 2 weeks, but till then i'd like to have enough oil in there for it to be happy

can i mix 10/30 10/40 in there with whatever is in it?

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:46 am

YARDofSTUF wrote:ok guys ok ok ok LOL the oil light means its getting low, i know this, and i know oil is important, its going in to be serviced in 2 weeks, but till then i'd like to have enough oil in there for it to be happy

can i mix 10/30 10/40 in there with whatever is in it?

Sorry Yardy, it does not mean that it is getting low, it means that it is ALREADY TOO LOW!... When that light comes on, you are lucky if permanent damage hasn't already happened... I would bet that the oil (or what was once oil...) in your motor is caked up everywhere inside your motor. Insulating heat, preventing lubrication (which is the purpose of oil), among other things...

An easy & quick way to destroy you engine is to neglect the oil...

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:53 am

Considering the age of car and the probable condition inside the engine, I would walk to the store and get a couple of quarts of 10w40. Then I would immediately take the car down and have it flushed, filter changed and the recommended oil put in. (That is, if you care/depend on the car...) If not, heck, look at it as many do, ...Hey, it has gas, so everything is jiggy, til the motor locks up...

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:54 am

Hi YARDofSTUF

Put in some 10W30 and it will be fine till you get to your Oil Change which should be done asap as well as a Filter.

regards

minir

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:56 am

I should have mentioned that If the Light Stays On after adding the Oil and running the engine for a minute...Then Get Ye to a Dealer Zap!

regards

minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:01 am

[quote="Ken"]Considering the age of car and the probable condition inside the engine, I would walk to the store and get a couple of quarts of 10w40. Then I would immediately take the car down and have it flushed, filter changed and the recommended oil put in. (That is, if you care/depend on the car...) If not, heck, look at it as many do, ...Hey, it has gas, so everything is jiggy, til the motor locks up... ]

I am thankful for the advice, and i do depend on the car, but i'm gonna drive down to pep boys and grab some oil, and top it off, much likewith gas

Jiffy lube is closed, only chance i had at an oil change today, pep boys is full with appointments and junk, so i got votes for 10/40 and 10/30, whats the difference?

this is non synthetic or what? grrrrrr so many choices lol

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:03 am

minir wrote:I should have mentioned that If the Light Stays On after adding the Oil and running the engine for a minute...Then Get Ye to a Dealer Zap!

regards

minir

light only flickered on going around a turn so i'm assuming its getting low or like ken said, low already. get to a dealer zap? like asap? lol Dealers won't do crap on teh weekends.

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:15 am

Just get regular 10/40 or 10/30 and get the oil up to the fill line. Mixing different weights won't hurt it as much as it being low. The numbers are indicative of the weight of the oil. Low number is the one that states how "runny" it will be in cold weather, the higher number states how "runny" it remainds when subjected to high temps. To gooey and it won't lube right, to runny and it won't lube right. A 10/40 oil has a bigger area of temps that it remains the correct viscosity for lubrication than a 10/30 oil, BUT the 10/30 is better suited for low temp duty. Why? A smaller viscosity range means that the oil is more consistent. Many racers use single weight oils for that reason.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:47 am

Thanks guys, dad came home and filled it up, had enough left in a bottle to bring it to the full marker.

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:53 am

Hi YARDofSTUF

Use Regular 10W30, or 40 and it will be fine. Unlikely it was using Synthetic?

If it simply flickered on a turn its probably not too serious, but always check your Oil Levels yourself.

Get on a Level Surface to get an accurate reading and allow the oil a minute or so to drain back to the oil pan after you shut the engine off.

I usually Gas up first which allows the oil time to return to the Pan. Better yet check it in the morning before Startup. Good time to check your Tire Pressures as well, as they should be checked when cold.

Nuff for today Eh!

regards

minir

regards

minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:29 pm

I check tire pressure every day, got a slow leak in the front right

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:38 pm

Most auto manufactures put the oil requirments right on the fill cap.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:40 pm

Stu Pidasso wrote:Most auto manufactures put the oil requirments right on the fill cap.

nothing their either, but its full, again thanks guys!

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:43 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:nothing their either

Imports, go figure

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:52 pm

Like my english? lol

minir · Post by **minir** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:53 pm

Hi Stu Pidasso

You mean the " 710 " Cap don't you

regards

minir

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:56 pm

minir wrote:Hi Stu Pidasso

You mean the " 710 " Cap don't you

regards

minir

Like my english? lol

lol

ScottE · Post by **ScottE** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:07 pm

5W30 is probably what the manual says. 10W30 is probably all you need though.

Alloy rims? I've got a slow leak in one of my tires too. Happens after a while with alloy rims.

Gotta get the tires resealed on the rims.

m4a2t0t · Post by **m4a2t0t** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 2:54 pm

You should find the source of the oil loss.

ScottE · Post by **ScottE** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:03 pm

m4a2t0t wrote:You should find the source of the oil loss.

Valve Seals are probably bad, so it's burning oil.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:12 pm

10 wieght 30.. You could even use 5w/30 but if you cant find anything in the manual use the hevier wieght oil (10/30)

BaLa · Post by **BaLa** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:56 pm

didn't read all the replies, but you NEED to check your oil more often, once the light comes on, often times it's already been low..

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:17 pm

m4a2t0t wrote:You should find the source of the oil loss.

how about 11k miles since the last oil change?

*runs and hides*

fastchevy · Post by **fastchevy** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:19 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:how about 11k miles since the last oil change?

*runs and hides*

Holy ****

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:36 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:how about 11k miles since the last oil change?

*runs and hides*

Can you say Mobile 1

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:37 pm

Stu Pidasso wrote:Can you say Mobile 1

"Mobile 1"

Now what do I win?

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:40 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:"Mobile 1"

Now what do I win?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:41 pm

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:27 pm

Ken wrote:.....Sorry Yardy, it does not mean that it is getting low, it means that it is ALREADY TOO LOW!......

My 1988 T-Bird had two oil lights, one came on when you where a quart low, and the other came on when oil pressure was low.

A lot of cars have this feature.

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:31 pm

oh...and when I'm topping off my oil I usually add 20w-50. I figure the thickness of the oil will help witht he overall viscosity of oil in the engine.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:36 pm

i only read the first page, but, you can just go to like jiffy lube or something and get an oil change in 10 minutes, its real easy and you should do it every 3,000 miles