Checked my oil for the first time and this happened

[subarubrzz]

So here's a little background of the car. I've had it for about three months and I've put about 2,500 miles on it. So today I decided to check the oil. When I checked it, the oil seems to be about an inch over the full mark. I checked the car when the engine was cold. I don't want to ruin my car. Should I go back to the dealership and have them do an oil change? Thank you

[mav1178]

Is your car parked on flat ground?

[JSube]

Originally Posted by subarubrzz

So here's a little background of the car. I've had it for about three months and I've put about 2,500 miles on it. So today I decided to check the oil. When I checked it, the oil seems to be about an inch over the full mark. I checked the car when the engine was cold. I don't want to ruin my car. Should I go back to the dealership and have them do an oil change? Thank you

Is the car new with the initial factory fill-up? If so, I wouldn't worry about it, more oil is better than low oil (but still not ideal.)
Is the car used with the initial dealership fill-up? If so, it's hard to know if the dealer actually changed oil before it went on the lot. If it looks like clean, brown synthetic in sunlight (not real dark) you'll still be ok. It will be messy to do this, but if it really bothers you and you're too cheap to pay for an oil change , buy a fresh quart and drain 16 oz. into a pan (leave the filter on.) Do this on a cold engine only so you can jam the plug back in the pan quickly without burning your fingers.
If it's new and the dealer is giving you an oil change, just ask them to change it now. No harm in that.
Also, go by the side of the dipstick with the lowest level.

[Azzudien]

If it actually is overfilled, much easier to just swing by the dealer and have them suck out a little through the dipstick tube. I have done this before, it is pretty easy if you have the tool. Plus no mess

[StraightOuttaCanadaEh]

Yes I went back and had them drain it and refill it. However, make sure you check both sides of the stick. The lowest side is the true level.

[Tcoat]

So what does the owner manual say about checking the oil? Engine temp? How to do it right?

[Spuds]

The engine will start to burn some off anyway. You probably had a bit more than that to begin with. I think you'll be fine as long as the oil still looks good.

Also, 7 posts in 4.5 years is impressive...

[subarubrzz]

Forgot to mention that the car was brand new. It was parked on a level surface. And the reason I only had 7 posts in 4.5 years is because at the time I was too young to buy a brz. I fell in love it it the second I saw it in someones driveway when I was 15 years old. Here are some pictures of the dipstick when I pulled it out. It's not a great picture but I hope you can see what I'm talking about. Also note how the oil is a bit slanted after the full mark. [IMG]oil.JPG[/IMG]

[Ultramaroon]

That's not bad. It is dangerous to overfill but it has to be quite a lot to make contact with the crankshaft. I don't know how much and don't want to blaze that trail.

Keep in mind that the dipstick enters the crankcase at a shallow angle making overfill look worse than it actually is.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Also, 7 posts in 4.5 years is impressive...

OP will get thanks button sometime in 2019.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by subarubrzz

Forgot to mention that the car was brand new. It was parked on a level surface. And the reason I only had 7 posts in 4.5 years is because at the time I was too young to buy a brz. I fell in love it it the second I saw it in someones driveway when I was 15 years old. Here are some pictures of the dipstick when I pulled it out. It's not a great picture but I hope you can see what I'm talking about. Also note how the oil is a bit slanted after the full mark. [IMG]oil.JPG[/IMG]

Did you read on how it is supposed to be measured? Supposed to be warm after waiting about 5 minutes. Not cold after sitting for hours.
Try again under those conditions and see what you get.

The slanted part is just from dragging ith through the tube. Don't expect to get a perfectly straight line.

[HKz]

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

Yes I went back and had them drain it and refill it. However, make sure you check both sides of the stick. The lowest side is the true level.

this. if both sides of the stick are abnormally high then maybe there might be a overfill worry. otherwise i think OP is fine, as others have mentioned, the fa20's dipstick isn't the best indicator (I assume this is the case with most if not all boxer designs)

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

As for consumption: My car seems to use about 1/2 quart between 7500 mile intervals of oil and filter change. (My car has 52,000 miles on it now) I assume this usage is normal...and I did beat the piss out of my engine, rev wise, beginning from when it was brand new. Break in period, what's that ? LOL.

Experience with my car: It eats coolant way more often than engine oil. No one seems to have an answer for that one. Best to keep a gallon bottle of coolant handy in your garage. Personally I trust 'Prestone' brand 'concentrate antifreeze/coolant' (full strength) from Wallymart. I ain't gonna pay for Toyota or Subaru brands of coolant.

Note: I am a former auto mechanic.

My car goes through coolant as well, but not too badly. Was starting to worry it was only me. Still puzzling. Maybe Subaru has decided to make their head gaskets leaky from the factory to get past the old head gasket failure problem. It's now a "design feature" lol.

I remember reading that newer engines actually have greater designed clearances than older engines to reduce internal wear, which is why we can expect to see 200k + miles on your typical car nowadays. The side effect is that some oil is burned during normal operation.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Spuds

My car goes through coolant as well, but not too badly. Was starting to worry it was only me. Still puzzling.

Have you replaced your radiator cap? If yes, do a leak test. I beat the piss out of mine and lose no coolant.