Note to self RE oil temp gauge

[lilfluff]

Note to self: In the oil temperature gauge seems to be reading higher than usual, MAYBE CHECK THE OIL LEVEL!

At least I didn't run it utterly dry. Just down to the, "Hey idiot! Put more oil in!" line on the dip stick.

Comments

[jecook]

I did worse- I was down two+ quarts on my last vehicle, which I think did some permanent damage to the lifters on the engine's head.

There's other reasons why I replaced it, but that was one of them.

[lilfluff]

Ouch. I wouldn't feel too horrid as this is a '97 car and is showing its age. But, I'd hate to have to replace it do to something so easily avoidable.

We'd stopped to go in a store, then when we came out drove all of about five feet before the "Check Oil" light came on. Parked promptly, pulled the dipstick and went, "Oh! Not good!" when I saw that not a single one of the holes drilled near the end of the dipstick had an oil drop trapped within it.

Fortunately I had a half bottle in the trunk and we were right by a store that I knew would have more. Still I was feeling pretty foolish for letting it get that low.