It is normal for every engine to consume some oil. For this reason the engine oil level
should be checked every 500 km or before starting a long trip.
The oil level must be checked with the vehicle parked on level ground and with the
engine (which must be at normal operating temperature) switched off. Wait at least
5 minutes before checking the level to allow the oil to settle. If the engine is cold, the
oil may take a lot longer to drain back.
To check the level, remove the oil dipstick,
wipe it clean and re-insert it as far as it will
go. Pause for a second then withdraw the
dipstick and look at the oil level on it.
The oil level should be maintained
between the low and full levels (Barina: A
and B, Combo: MIN and MAX).
Refer to Chapter 8, Specifications for the
engine oil details.
Add engine oil
To add oil, undo the cap on top of the
engine. Add enough oil to bring the oil level
to the full level. As a guide, the distance
between the marks represents 1 litre of oil.
Wait a few minutes for the oil to settle then
check the oil level again. When the level is
correct, install the oil cap and the dipstick
and clean up any spilt oil.
Note: Do not increase the oil level to above
the top mark on the dipstick.
Oil consumption should not be judged
until the vehicle has run several thousand
kilometres. It may take this long for oil
consumption to stabilise.
Oils not recommended
Note: Non-detergent and other low quality
oils are specifically not recommended.
The use of break-in oil, tune up
compounds, friction reducing compounds
and other supplemental additives are not
recommended. Their use will increase
costs, may be detrimental to the operation
of your vehicle and may void your New
Vehicle Warranty, to the extent that Holden
considers the non-recommended fluid to
have affected the specifications or quality
of your Holden vehicle.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
Chapter 7
WEEKLY CHECKS
7-3