Make sure to check your oil

[wowsa]

I had to add a quart at 2000 miles. Should be normal to use oil during engine break in, but wanted to remind everyone to do so.

 

[yurguis]

I had to add a quart at 2000 miles. Should be normal to use oil during engine break in, but wanted to remind everyone to do so.

Did you get any warning light?

 

[wowsa]

No warning light, just checked before a long trip and was a bit surprised to see it was so low,, not even on the dipstick range. I added a quart and that seemed to do the trick taking me up to the top of the hashed out zone,

 

[Jrich58]

What type of oil do these take?

 

[SweetAndLow]

What type of oil do these take?

 

[dynamics101]

@OP
I noticed the same issue but surprisingly it is different from other cars/SUVs.
Normally, when the engine is warmed up, the oil level should indicate "high" but GCL is opposite.
It means that the level of the oil dip stick indicates "high" when the engine is cooled down. It indicates "low" when the engine is warmed up. It seems that you checked oil level when the engine is fully warmed up.

Be careful to NOT add too much oil, which would cause other issues in the long run.
Check your oil level in the morning, you would find that oil level is much higher. Due to this issue, I had to extract engine oil after I added 0w20 synthetic oil. The manual recommends checking the dipstick 5 minutes after the engine is shut off.

 

[JWCJeep]

@dynamics101​

I believe your comment of its reversed is incorrect. Your oil level should always be checked with a fully warmed engine, and allowed to sit only for a few minutes after running to ensure all oil is returned to the oil pan for a proper measurement. Oil expands with heat, and will rise on the dipstick, not the reverse as you indicated if I read your post correct….. This is from your owners manual.

CHECKING OIL LEVEL​

To ensure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at regular intervals, such as every fuel stop.
The best time to check the engine oil level is about five minutes after a fully warmed up engine is shut off.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will improve the accuracy of the oil level readings.

There are four possible dipstick types:

• Crosshatched zone.
• Crosshatched zone marked SAFE.
• Crosshatched zone marked with MIN at the low end of the range and MAX at the high end of the range.
• Crosshatched zone marked with dimples at the MIN and the MAX ends of the range.

Note:
Always maintain the oil level within the crosshatch markings on the dipstick.

 

[wowsa]

The first time I checked it (and read extremely low), I think the engine had been off for a few hours.
Then I added a quart.
A few days later I checked it in the morning (having sat all night) and the oil read super high. So much so that I thought I would have to have some removed. I actually drove it 15 min to get to an oil change place and when I pulled up the dipstick measured safe at the max line of the hashed section.

I have checked it several times since then and got the same result (at max of hash zone).

So despite strange readings initially, I just have truly been low since I did add a full quart of oil and now it is “fine”.

 

[rallen]

I think i need to add a quart as well... Good post fellas

 

[dynamics101]

The first time I checked it (and read extremely low), I think the engine had been off for a few hours.
Then I added a quart.
A few days later I checked it in the morning (having sat all night) and the oil read super high. So much so that I thought I would have to have some removed. I actually drove it 15 min to get to an oil change place and when I pulled up the dipstick measured safe at the max line of the hashed section.

I have checked it several times since then and got the same result (at max of hash zone).

So despite strange readings initially, I just have truly been low since I did add a full quart of oil and now it is “fine”.

This is exactly what I experienced. I think that the Jeep engineers selected a specific spot of the engine to measure oil level in a static way (not dynamic). In case of off-road or a long-driving condition at a high speed, the temperature of engine is normally higher so this might create an issue of inaccurate measurement of oil level, e.g., the oil level is very high although a proper amount of oil is in the engine. This is applicable to other car makers.

That's why Jeep engineers might have designed to measure oil level 5 minute after the engine is shut off.

Hopefully, other forum users also understand these unique characteristics with GCL in terms of oil level measurements.

1. The "Higher" level of engine oil is measured when an engine is cooled off.
2. The "Lower" level of engine oil is measured when an engine is warmed up
3. Always measure oil level approximately 5 minutes after a warmed engine is shut off. The oil level must stay within the crosshatched area of dipstick, e.g., at the middle or higher level.

It is very unique compared to other vehicles but I think that this is a Jeep thing.