Hello.

 

I have a 1.6 Felicia. This morning I noticed that it was low on oil so I decided to give it some. The problem is that the added oil is consumed in some space-time anomaly inside the engine. I ended up pouring the whole 4 litre canister but the dipstick gets wet only about 3-4mm at the tip. Oil capacity is supposedly 3,5 L. I read the dipstick many times and gave many hours for the oil to settle but the reading doesn't change. Checked the ground but oil hasn't gone there. No change in coolant level, color or odor. Tried briefly starting but the oil pressure warning stayed on. Yesterday It was sometimes flickering on idle, that is why I decided to check oil level. Outside temperature is -25C so it may have something to do with this. Added oil was 5w-30 and flowed nicely out of the canister. What is happening here?

I have a 1.6 Felicia. This morning I noticed that it was low on oil so I decided to give it some.

So you knew there is some oil in the sump, you knew the maximum capacity is 3.5 liters, yet you decided to give it 'some' 4 liters. What were you thinking?

 

Well, you have to help us help you. As many other members, you forgot mentioning the HISTORY of your car. Mileage, maintenance style, previous related repairs, previous average oil consumption, did you mix different engine oils, other failed things, etc. Imagine you go to a local garage and ask the mechanic to solve the mystery without seeing the car. With so little information he couldn't tell anything other than 'it's an oil passage restriction from gunk and low temp and the oil fills a pocket.'

Edited 30 December, 201411 yr by RicardoM

I started by adding about 1 litre of oil. I let it settle for some time but it didn't register on the dipstick. So I think it must be really dry and add some more. This goes on and eventually the whole canister is poured to see where the oil is leaking out but it isn't leaking. I've never heard of a situation that added oil doesn't flow to sump. That is the whole story of adding oil. I've always used only one brand of fully synthetic oil and changed it yearly. Mileage is 360k. Can't think of any related problems. Maintained as necessary, no record of previous owners habits. Only odd thing is that coolant loses it's color. I've had the car for four years during which I've changed the coolant twice and it's always been like that without problems.

First let's check it's not a level indication error. When you insert the dipstick all the way, do you feel its tip hitting something? Try inserting it rotated 180 deg.

Take off the cylinder head cover and have a look. Use a thin, long steel wire to probe the oilways between engine head and oil sump.

It is mandatory to restore the oil level under MAX on dipstick otherwise you'll kill the cat.

Did you solve the mystery?