were you checking the oil on a cold engine? try warming up the car and checking it again!

 

No, the driveway is clean, I am baffled too. I did notice the oil was getting low but it was still in the ok range, albiet right at the bottom, the day before I parked it. I parked it because I noticed the oil level had dropped, but I never noticed the car running badly. It had started snowing here so I decided not to worry about it and have been driving my other car since early december. It was nice out 45f and partly sunny, lol, anyway I popped the hood and was starting to clean the engine and decided to pull the dip stick just to see where it was at. I wiped it off, put it back in and it came out dry. I had just got the car back in my possesion after a year of it getting worked on, getting a new engine, and some other fun stuff. I was driving around and tuning it with the help of a couple of people that are very knowledgable of my ECU (Autronic). This tuning was only so I could break it in and was only into very low boost areas of the map, never in the higher loads. Got cold out then the above happened.

I know that engines can consume oil like /\ mentioned, but to that extent?

 

Huh?!? Yes it was cold, hasn't been started since december. But wouldn't there be some oil on the dipstick?

 

the oil level may raise when it is hot. different temps may give you different readings. I would warm up your engine completely until you hear the fan go on and then shut your car off and check the oil level.

 

The oil level is not going to rise from nothing on the dipstick to normal just from warming up. I wouldn't start the engine until you add oil.

 

^ fair enough, just be careful because having too much oil in your engine may cause damage.

 

Also make sure you use the correct oil weight for your engine. stock 4g63 engines would be 10w-30 but for built engines its typically 20w-50.

 

so what was the conclusion ?

 

Posting a follow up tonight

 

Ok, so I checked out the car. First I opened the radiator cap and I didn't see anything No oil in radiator though thats good. So I slowly added oil and after two quarts it is perfect, right in the middle of the notches. I checked all around for leaks and I didn't see anything. Looks like it just burnt off, and the grim on the block is from driving. The radiator took less than a quart of antifreeze and was full. So apparently the oil pan can have 3 quarts of oil in it, and the dipstick can come out clean. I am going to change the oil and keep an eye on it. Hopefully it was just the break in period burning oil. Thanks for the replies everyone.

Is andrewzaragoza correct? 20w-50 for built engines?