I'm a bit of an oil novice but I have read the posts on here and I have the correct oil etc. My maxidot display gave me the yellow oil can this morning!

I went to fill up the oil, took the cap off and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. There's a small black plate at the top and a silver surface below it. There is then a small gap next to the silver surface where the oil seems to drain into. I could put the oil in but not very much at a time. Is this correct?

Additionally, the dipstick was very inconclusive. I did the check 3 or 4 times. The oil, appeared, to only hit the small orange blip at the bottom. However, the other orange bit above it, also had oil on it. After I had put in 500ml, I did the check again and it hadn't changed. At that point, I thought I'd wait to see if anyone could give me advice.

Sorry if these appear to be idiots questions!

Seems about right as regards the filler - as for the blips / pips / WHY, you will always get a few spots of oil further up the dipstick, but it's the solid patch of oil that's there after you've wiped the dipstick, put it back in and taken it out again that matters. The level won't rise straightaway, as what you've put in needs a bit of time to run down into the sump.

If you have run it so low that the low oil warning has come on, it could be that half a litre isn't enough to get the level back onto the dipstick and all you are seeing are the traces picked up from the tube.

Correct method to check the oil:

• ensure you are on level ground
  
• stop the engine and wait 2-3 minutes
  
• remove dipstick and wipe clean
  
• replace dipstick making sure it is fully home
  
• remove dipstick and note oil level
  

In most cases from the min mark to the max mark on the dipstick is 1 litre (Look in your manual to check for sure) so it will take some more before it reaches max assuming you have dipped it correctly.

What he said, other than I was always told min to max is 1.5 litres on nearly all cars.

What oil did you use by the way as still trying to indetify the exact oil for the car so i can buy a couple of litres prior to my delivery.

Good Luck

Using Castrol Edge 5w/30 as everywhere I looked recommended it.

Thank you for the helpful replies. I'll likely put more in when I get home. Filling the oil up at work and in the rain isn't fun! :no:

I think what confused me was that I couldn't just pour 500ml in because of the design. Was 100ml at a time and waiting for it to drain away.

Good news is the warning didn't come on when I started the car up.

Good job, coming from an RX8 you cant really ever let your low oil light come on. You need to check/top up about every 3 fill ups - the RX8 Rotary is a very oil hungry engine, I use about a litre every 1,100 - 1,200 miles.

I use Fuchs Titan 5w 30 for the RX8 but will note the Castrol Edge and get a couple of litres prior to the pick up of the VRS. Always good to keep one in the boot !