Oil Low Ticking. How Much Oil Needed?

[SWM]

I just had sears do a Mobile 1 oil change for me while they were swapping my snow tires on. They used exactly 6 quarts as far as i know because i bought the 6 gt case. The engine is still ticking like it does when the oil level gets a hair too low. How much more oil do i need to add? shouldnt need an entire quart right? i did check the dip stick but i didnt have proper light to see the actual level, will check when i get home and have an actual flashlight.

Sorry lame question, just frustrated i didnt take it to my usual shop to do it. i knew there was a reason i dont use Sears for anything more then tires.

[volvoskiah]

just check the oil and if it is good, you don't need to add any. my old engine would tick even when the oil was full

[misa]

If you have red oil dipstick handle...6quarts of oil is enough,but if your oil dipstick handle is fluorescent then you will need about 7 quarts of oil.

Even if you need that extra oil,thicking wouldn't be constant.You would hear it only at cold start-up for a second or two.

If you have constant ticking then you have the other sort of problem instead of low oil.

[SWM]

for the last three years when i get real close to my oil change or over by some, the ticking starts, when i add a quart it stops...then always, when i get oil changed, ticking stops as it has sufficient oil. I would be surprised if there was sufficient oil and the ticking was still present, it has been working like this for a good few years.

and yes, i have the fluorescent dip stick

[Kevin.]

from what I know most and/or all of the volvo 5 cylinder engines have a ticking noise associated with them. I've gathered that it's from the lifters or something along those lines

[Stormtrooper1]

for the last three years when i get real close to my oil change or over by some, the ticking starts, when i add a quart it stops...then always, when i get oil changed, ticking stops as it has sufficient oil. I would be surprised if there was sufficient oil and the ticking was still present, it has been working like this for a good few years.

That reminds me of the 96 Cadillac I had from 01-03.

It would leak a little oil, but only when the oil life monitor said that i had less than 20% oil life left.

[Keaton85]

6Qts for all these vehicles period...

Ticking is more due to oil pan/sump o-rings then anything else. If you had the ticking from low oil you would have an oil light since your oil pressure would drop die to lack of oil.

Ticking is just the lobs slapping the lifters so don't get to excited over a noisy engine....

[SWM]

thanks peeps, well i might have jumped too soon, sound did go away. when im overdue for oil change and i hear the ticking, the oil light flashes quickly on some hard turns, so i know it is low. Seems all good now, 6 qt in, no ticking. i wasnt as worried about damage as it sounding like a crap box. im a noise nazi, i hate any sounds interior or exterior which dont belong.

[czar]

from what I know most and/or all of the volvo 5 cylinder engines have a ticking noise associated with them. I've gathered that it's from the lifters or something along those lines

I am glad I was able to find my old post and did not have to re-type all of this

I am sure many reading this know that some amount of ticking is completely normal.

From my 1995 Volvo 850 Owner's Manual

Hydraulic valve lifters

This engine features hydraulic valve lifters

which means that the valve clearance is adjusted

automatically. It is possible that the valve lifters will

produce a ticking sound for the first few seconds

after the engine is started, while

the oil pressure is increasing.

If the car has not been used for a long period of time,

this ticking sound may last for up to

15 minutes. This is completely normal.

Do not exceed 3000 rpm until the ticking

sound disappears.

Same comment was in the owner's manual for my 94 960 (2.9l in-line 6...smoothest running motor ever)

oh, but the last line is pretty important. It is BOLD like that in the owner's manual, too.