Can I top up my banger with this oil? HELP

mr1974

Hi

I have a Toyota Corolla Hatchback year 2001 - with around 100000 miles on the clock.

The oil light has started to blink when I am on a reclined slope, and I think a top up is in order - it had already been highlighted at the last MOT.

I've done a bit of research and 5-30 should be what I am after.

Can I pour any of these in:
http://goo.gl/Ehf4CY
http://goo.gl/CScfFy

I don't know what oil was last used, and I am not sure on whether I can mix and match.

Many thanks for any input.
MR

PS = This is going to be my first top up ever so any word of advice / encouragement to prevent disasters is highly welcome

forgotmyname

You do realise that everytime that oil light flickers its killing the engine.

By the time the light comes on the damage is already being done.

Chippan oil is better than no oil. But some decent stuff. Not supermarket cheapo stuff. Unless its using a gallon a mile.

1st topup ever. Maybe its time you had it serviced.

Iceweasel

You should really be checking the oil level weekly.

It's as much if not more important on a high mileage car than with a newer one.

An oil level so low that it makes the light flicker is almost at terminal damage level.

The difference between max and min on the dipstick is 1 litre on most cars and has been for many years.

Don't over fill it either.

To make sure of the oil spec just put your reg number in here:

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9024084&contentId=7073092

Good luck.

Ultrasonic

I strongly suggest that you do not drive the car again until the oil level has been topped up.

When was the car last serviced?

jaymidlands

highlighted at mot and nothing been done yet?..when was the mot?

fatbelly

Is an oil level check part of the MOT?

DUTR

Check the oil switch is not faulty if the car is not losing oil.

Weird_Nev

Get the car on level ground. Engine warm, but not been running for about 10 minutes minimum to allow oil to collect back in the sump and show true level.

Pull the dipstick, see if you can see oil on it and make a general note of level, then wipe with a rage, reinsert it fully, and pull it back out. There are 2 marks, high and low. Never exceed either. Generally it's about 1 litre of oil to go from low to high. If the oil isn't even on the dipstick, add a litre, then check again. You have to wait a minute or two for the oil to flow through the engine to the sump. You don't want to over fill it.

I'm an advocate of 'any oil will do' once you're talking about an old car with a lot of miles. They're all made to a standard, and the important thing is that you have oil. Just check that 5W30 is indeed what you need. Should be specified in the handbook.

Once you have the level on the dipstick, check it once a week. Oil either burns or falls out, there is no other option if it's losing it! 0.5L/1000 miles is the upper limit for an older engine. Much more than this and there's something wrong.

Do get a general service done if the car has been neglected for a while. New oil filter, a complete oil change, and air filter are essential, and new spark plugs, cabin filter and fuel filter will be very worthwhile.

Stoke

Weird_Nev wrote: »

Get the car on level ground. Engine warm, but not been running for about 10 minutes minimum to allow oil to collect back in the sump and show true level.

Pull the dipstick, see if you can see oil on it and make a general note of level, then wipe with a rage, reinsert it fully, and pull it back out. There are 2 marks, high and low. Never exceed either. Generally it's about 1 litre of oil to go from low to high. If the oil isn't even on the dipstick, add a litre, then check again. You have to wait a minute or two for the oil to flow through the engine to the sump. You don't want to over fill it.

I'm an advocate of 'any oil will do' once you're talking about an old car with a lot of miles. They're all made to a standard, and the important thing is that you have oil. Just check that 5W30 is indeed what you need. Should be specified in the handbook.

Once you have the level on the dipstick, check it once a week. Oil either burns or falls out, there is no other option if it's losing it! 0.5L/1000 miles is the upper limit for an older engine. Much more than this and there's something wrong.

Do get a general service done if the car has been neglected for a while. New oil filter, a complete oil change, and air filter are essential, and new spark plugs, cabin filter and fuel filter will be very worthwhile.

This... pretty much.

I recommend fully synthetic, conforming to the spec in your handbook. 5w30 is okay. I think 5w40 is better for the UK, but it's also more expensive. I tend to buy my oil around Christmas time, because companies like Halfrauds and EuroCarParts have sales on all their oil....


oh and before anyone says "halfords oil is cheap sh*t or Euro Car Parts oil is cheap rubbish" -
Halfords oil is manufactured by oil giants Comma.
Euro Car Parts own oil is manufactured by Shell.

It's the supermarket rubbish you need to avoid.

Iceweasel

fatbelly wrote: »

Is an oil level check part of the MOT?

The tester would have probably removed the dip-stick - not to check the level but to insert a temperature probe prior to doing the emissions or smoke test - to make sure the engine was at normal working temperature.

It's mentioned in the MOT regs/procedure.

A decent mechanic/tester would have alerted the owner to the fact that they were short of oil.

But the OP seems to have not taken any action - yet.

We don't know how long ago that MOT was of course.

BeenThroughItAll

fatbelly wrote: »

Is an oil level check part of the MOT?

Nope......