Go Back   AstinaGT Forums > Performance & Technical > Performance & General Maintenance

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-02-2014, 09:15 AM   #1
Assiduous
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canberra
Car: 323 Astina BA 1.8L
Posts: 16
Oil change only nets 2L - sludge buildup?

Greetings all,

Dropped the oil+filter out of my 1996 BA 1.8 yesterday and noticed that i only netted little more than 2L of engine oil. The manual states that oil and oil lifter change should use 3.6L of oil. I'm wondering if its likely that I have a sludge problem. Is there a consensus that 3.6L about right for an oil+filter change?

thanks.
Assiduous is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 02-02-2014, 09:25 AM   #2
Cosmo Dude
コスモ
 
Cosmo Dude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Location: Vic
Car: Mazda '95 Astina I4, '86 B2K and '10 3 MZR-CD
Posts: 7,888
Being a '96 then it's probably left via the exhaust.
Keep an eye in it and if the tappets chatter for more than a few seconds on startup then def check oil and top it up.
__________________
My 'stina Hatch
Cosmo Dude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 10:17 AM   #3
project.r.racing
Senior Member
 
project.r.racing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: n/a
Car: n/a
Posts: 10,929
i never get 3.6L out. as above some of it burns.

do you have leaks?
do you notice smoke from exhaust?
did you fill 3.6L at last oil change?
when was the last oil change?
did you notice sludge in the oil that was removed?
what brand/type/viscosity oil is being used?

Last edited by project.r.racing; 02-02-2014 at 10:20 AM.
project.r.racing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 04:04 PM   #4
Assiduous
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canberra
Car: 323 Astina BA 1.8L
Posts: 16
I've never been able to detect any leaks, and I've also not seen any sign of smoke. It's had a pretty easy life, this BA. Clocked up 162,000 km. Rarely sees more than 3,000rpm.

I've been running a shell 10W-30 semi-synthetic recently, though the bulk of it's life it has been serviced by mechanics - so not always sure what they have been putting in it.

Didn't try to look for sludge in the oil - oil pan is filthy due to lack of a garage.

I did the last oil change (May-13) and I've used approx. 5.5L all up over the two services. Been filling to half-way between F and L on the dipstick - that accounts for 0.4L (0.8L between F and L) so should be using 3.2L and thus 6.4L total. Perhaps 5.5L isn't toooo bad... but i'll keep a close eye on it through to the next change.
Assiduous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 11:10 PM   #5
rodhog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney Lakemba
Car: mx-6 626 Gs300 Maz2 was 95 KF BA-HT
Posts: 2,024
You burnt it up most mechanics would of used semi - 15-40.
And you should start it and keep it on the F line.
rodhog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2014, 07:28 AM   #6
Assiduous
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canberra
Car: 323 Astina BA 1.8L
Posts: 16
Thanks for the replies and advice. I'll look for oil loss over this service interval and report what I find.
Assiduous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 07:01 AM   #7
Old Grey
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sydney
Car: Astina BG 1991 - Rx7 S4
Posts: 105
3.6L is probably to the top of the dipstick "F". If you drained it and only got 2L the dipstick would have read below "L" - about 1L from "F" to " L ".

You should always fill to the "F" because the extra oil leaves insurance if the engine is burning oil, and the greater volume gives the oil more time to cool and separate from the air.
Old Grey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2014, 06:08 PM   #8
Clean_Cookie
obsessed-incomplete-broke
 
Clean_Cookie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brisbane
Car: BA Hardtop/Hatch
Posts: 5,441
Tappets were the best indicators for oil level. As soon as the oil dropped to slightly above 1/2 way between l and f it would rattle a fraction longer. By that time I'd have done 8-10k so a change was done. Worked out perfectly.
__________________
Worklog
Clean_Cookie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-05-2015, 09:37 PM   #9
Assiduous
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Canberra
Car: 323 Astina BA 1.8L
Posts: 16
update

I can confirm out that the dip stick reading has never been below the 1/2 way mark. Paying close attention during my recent oil+filter change (the interval was ~8 months, 3400km); I noted that I got maybe around ~2.5L out, and it took ~3.2L to the F mark (after running and topping up). I have spotted a leaky head gasket that is probably responsible for a bit of the loss. Anyone know how much I can expect to pay for a new one?
Assiduous is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2015, 01:24 PM   #10
project.r.racing
Senior Member
 
project.r.racing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: n/a
Car: n/a
Posts: 10,929
either you are reading the dipstick incorrectly or you are not doing the process correctly for dipstick removal. one side will show higher than the other side. the lower side is the one to read.

halfway between the F and L lines means it has 3.2L of oil in it. L = 2.8L, F = 3.6L.
project.r.racing is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
oil change

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time now is 05:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
2001- 2010 AstinaGT