MX5 oil reading

[akaRob]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 01 May 2023 at 15:51

[Perd Hapley]

"Warm reading is splashed all over the place"? Are you doing the old fashioned remove stick, wipe, re-insert? Can't understand how the warm oil is splashing on the dipstick with a stationary engine.

[seany87]

They are a pain in the arse to do, I end up with several different readings as some oil residue must scrape on the dipstick in the tube.

I tend to err on the side of caution and fill it to near enough full when cold. Mine doesnt use oil between changes luckily enough.

[Eighteeteewhy]

akaRob said:

How the fk do you get an accurate reading on the dipstick on these things. Warm reading is splashed all over the place and a cold reading says I'm under low. Is there a secret technique to this?

My oil gauge reads 2/3 up the scale when it is supposed to sit 1/2 way, which prompted me to check.

Any help before I go crazy?? I can't believe I'm having trouble checking oil...

?

Are you checking with the engine running?

[Captain Muppet]

akaRob said:

How the fk do you get an accurate reading on the dipstick on these things. Warm reading is splashed all over the place and a cold reading says I'm under low.

What makes you think your cold reading is wrong?

[thegman]

akaRob said:

How the fk do you get an accurate reading on the dipstick on these things. Warm reading is splashed all over the place and a cold reading says I'm under low. Is there a secret technique to this?

My oil gauge reads 2/3 up the scale when it is supposed to sit 1/2 way, which prompted me to check.

Any help before I go crazy?? I can't believe I'm having trouble checking oil...

Are you talking about your oil pressure gauge? When cold the car will read much higher than when warm. My Eunos reads (from memory) 4 (think that kg/cm) when cold and 2.5 when warm - something like that.

[Trevor450]

I would use the cold reading. It is the stupid plastic thing on the end that makes it impossible to read. I think you can get aftermarket dipsticks which help somewhat.

[LouD86]

thegman said:

Are you talking about your oil pressure gauge? When cold the car will read much higher than when warm. My Eunos reads (from memory) 4 (think that kg/cm) when cold and 2.5 when warm - something like that.

Same here, cruising at 70 cold its above 4, and thats with exactly the right amount of oil in there

[C.A.R.]

My mx5 was positively the hardest car for reading the oil level from, so I can sympathise with the OP!

[Captain Muppet]

Isn't the "oil pressure gauge" on later MX5s just a two step indicator? Mine is an early mk1 and the gauge moves all over the place like it should, but I've read on MX5OC that the later cars just have two positions and it's no better than a warning light.

[skinny]

you are supposed to check with a cold engine.

also i've found that on the mx5, each side of the dipstick reads a different oil level! if you hold it at 90 degrees to where it wants to naturally sit, then i've got it read the same on both sides.

[Trevor450]

Captain Muppet said:

Isn't the "oil pressure gauge" on later MX5s just a two step indicator? Mine is an early mk1 and the gauge moves all over the place like it should, but I've read on MX5OC that the later cars just have two positions and it's no better than a warning light.

It moves with the revs but is is essentially just a dummy gauge.