I filled with gas the other night and I decided to check my oil. I think they need to bring the top of the dip stick tube up to the top of the decorative plastic engine top/cover or make the hole cone shaped to guide the stick back to the tube. Unless you can see down in that hole where the dipstick lives, it is not easy to get it back in the tube. Obviously, this isn't really a problem in the day or at a well lit gas station.

Does the plastic top of the engine actually do anything other than tell us that we have the "mighty" 2.4L engine? The 2.0L does not seem to have it.

I filled with gas the other night and I decided to check my oil. I think they need to bring the top of the dip stick tube up to the top of the decorative plastic engine top/cover or make the hole cone shaped to guide the stick back to the tube. Unless you can see down in that hole where the dipstick lives, it is not easy to get it back in the tube. Obviously, this isn't really a problem in the day or at a well lit gas station.

Does the plastic top of the engine actually do anything other than tell us that we have the "mighty" 2.4L engine? The 2.0L does not seem to have it.

I had the very same problem the other night. Of course i parked at the pump with the broken light and decided to check the oil. it must have taking me 5 mins and a few choice words fishing around with the dipstick trying to find the tube. That was bad engineering on jeeps part but not really too big of a problem i guess. Just remember to check your iol in the light and no worries.

The plastic cover actuallly is there to reduce the engine noise you hear inside the car. if you take it off you will start hearing the injectors and lifters and everything else that moves on top of the engine.

I keep a small flashlight in the trunk. It is a bit of a juggling act to check the oil with a flashlight, but it beats removing the cover each time. It does seem to be a design flaw.

Wakey Wakey people, don't y'all have the removable flashlight in the rear cargo area dome light? Maybe this is why they invented the thing :)

That's the only thing I've used the rechargeable flashlight for.

are you guys really afraid that a brand new jeep is going to leak oil so bad the fear causes you to check it at dark gas pumps?

or just habit?

honest question.. this is my first jeep and just wondering if I need to drive with a bucket taped under the oilpan or something.

Did anyone else notice that the dipstick says to check the oil level when hot? Never seen this before for engine oil.

Mine shows about 1/2 quart low when cold- I then noticed the writing, drove it for a while and rechecked- right on the full mark.

are you guys really afraid that a brand new jeep is going to leak oil so bad the fear causes you to check it at dark gas pumps?

or just habit?

honest question.. this is my first jeep and just wondering if I need to drive with a bucket taped under the oilpan or something.


its more of i wanted to see were the full line was on the dipstick for future reference, and you never know they may have forgot a quart or something when building. It never hurts to check.

are you guys really afraid that a brand new jeep is going to leak oil so bad the fear causes you to check it at dark gas pumps?

or just habit?

honest question.. this is my first jeep and just wondering if I need to drive with a bucket taped under the oilpan or something.

Nope./..but from what I have read recently, some of them would fare too badly putting a bucket under the rear dome light, or sunroof.:(

Anyone that doesn't check their oil at least every other fill-up is a damned fool. I don't care what you drive. While you are under the hood you may as well cehck the other fluids too.

Anyone that doesn't check their oil at least every other fill-up is a damned fool. I don't care what you drive. While you are under the hood you may as well cehck the other fluids too.

I watch the temp guage...and if ever seen it hit the 1/2 way mark...the 1st thing i would do is..check the oil.

Dipstick?
Jackhole!
:)

Dipstick?
Jackhole!
:)

I'm struggling to find any sence with the above comment by this contributor....unless its a self evaluation.

Anyone that doesn't check their oil at least every other fill-up is a damned fool. I don't care what you drive. While you are under the hood you may as well cehck the other fluids too.


oh please.. give me a break...

Nope./..but from what I have read recently, some of them would fare too badly putting a bucket under the rear dome light, or sunroof.:(

good one! ;)

unfortunately :(

I'm struggling to find any sence with the above comment by this contributor....unless its a self evaluation.

No, I wrote it for you.

Wakey Wakey people, don't y'all have the removable flashlight in the rear cargo area dome light? Maybe this is why they invented the thing :)

That fancy stuff didn't com on my car. :)

However, I do have a magnetic LED light in glove box. I think it is strong enough to just stick to the inside of the hood and it will stay. :doh:

are you guys really afraid that a brand new jeep is going to leak oil so bad the fear causes you to check it at dark gas pumps?

or just habit?

honest question.. this is my first jeep and just wondering if I need to drive with a bucket taped under the oilpan or something.

All my other cars, mostly Jeeps, are old and worn out, so I always check my oil every fuel fill.

The old flathead 6 in the 1960 Willys uses a quart or more each gas up from burning and leaking.

Just habit for me.

No, I wrote it for you.

Wow...seems like we got a real live one in here......a perfect example of why 1st cousins shouldn't marry and multiply.

I'm struggling to find any sence with the above comment by this contributor....unless its a self evaluation.

:doh: It's the thing on the radio for the MP3 input. :doh: You know, the Jack hole.

Not to be confused with the gas hole where you fill the car with fuel.

I keep a small flashlight in the trunk. It is a bit of a juggling act to check the oil with a flashlight

I keep my Sure-Fire on my belt in a kydex sheath. Much quicker and easier. ;) Removes the juggling part too, I just put it back in its sheath when I need both hands. (Or use the rubber ring to keep it between two fingers. Whichever.)

Agreed, though, that the designer dropped the ball on this one.

are you guys really afraid that a brand new jeep is going to leak oil so bad the fear causes you to check it at dark gas pumps?

Meh. When else would you check your oil level if not during fill-ups?

The manual recommends checking during every fill-up but I find that a tad excessive (since I try to keep the gas tank at least half full during normal driving, so I do small fill-ups more often). I checked every time at first, now that I've seen no evidence of oil loss I just check it every time the odometer ticks over the next 1000km and it's time for a fill-up. not being very mechanically savvy I don't know if it would be recommended to check more often, but this seems to work so far for me.

Wow...seems like we got a real live one in here......a perfect example of why 1st cousins shouldn't marry and multiply.

OK, Kentucky Fried Chicken, I was just pointing out that dipstick is a mild insult in some circles, so it's a slightly funny topic for a thread. A person could misconstrue it and respond angrily with another automotive-like word. It's, umm... joking. You have that where you come from, I think.

Why you want to attack strangers online is a mystery to me. Lighten up.

I keep my Sure-Fire on my belt in a kydex sheath. Much quicker and easier. ;) Removes the juggling part too, I just put it back in its sheath when I need both hands. (Or use the rubber ring to keep it between two fingers. Whichever.)

Agreed, though, that the designer dropped the ball on this one.



Meh. When else would you check your oil level if not during fill-ups?

The manual recommends checking during every fill-up but I find that a tad excessive (since I try to keep the gas tank at least half full during normal driving, so I do small fill-ups more often). I checked every time at first, now that I've seen no evidence of oil loss I just check it every time the odometer ticks over the next 1000km and it's time for a fill-up. not being very mechanically savvy I don't know if it would be recommended to check more often, but this seems to work so far for me.

I'm curious, you say you like to keep the tank half full or more. I tend to wait until I'm sure I'm near the bottom. I like to figure mileage, so I like a larger sample of information to work with.

Anybody else? When do you fill up, and why.

(duh, not just because the car won't run if it is out of gas) :)

Anybody else? When do you fill up, and why.

(duh, not just because the car won't run if it is out of gas) :)

When I start to go below half a tank I fill up. Two reasons.

1) I usually use it.

2) Most fuel pumps are electric and submerged in the gas tank. They are actually cooled by the gas. If you're always running on empty you are continually running your pump too hot and inviting premature failure. You have to drop the gas tank to change the pump. It is a PIA.

I havn't checked on the fuel pump in the Pat but it is more than likely also in the tank.

Never seen a study on it, but Dave is probably right.

I generally fill up when the light comes on --average fill up 11 gallons at roughly 300 miles

Yep.Me too. Mine take 12 when the light comes on.

I generally fill up when the light comes on --average fill up 11 gallons at roughly 300 miles

I tend to fill up at three intervals: the light coming on, just below half on really cold days or when there is going to be a day or two of bad weather (I'm a staunch pump yer own guy).

I must confess I have an external early warning system that prompts me to fill up long before the light comes on. My wife.

Happy wife - happy life. I just ask myself, do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?

:p

Check oil at home during daylight hours for safety reasons. No sense poking your head under the hood at a poorly lit filling station, some thug might take advantage. Gas up and get out, pay attention to your surroundings. Be safe. Maybe its a big city American thing. (reminds me to get my CCW permit) :) Reminds me why I don't like the patriot door locks too... can't possible lock all doors with keys in the ignition. I like to lock the doors to keep the family safe while gassing up the ride, can't do with the patriot - and there are no door lock buttons on the passenger door for the wife to push. (crappy design)

Check oil every now and then, it's a new vehicle, shouldn't be losing much oil.

Fuel fill up at 1/4 tank or so depending on weather, lighting conditions and the next planned trip. Always have enough fuel for bad weather if traffic will possibly go bad and you could sit for hours. Always have a flashlight handy, in door pocket or glove box/console.

I guess I'm glad I don't live in crime infested Denver. We never hear about the countless Denver murders and car jackings this far away I guess.
Here in rural Wisconsin most cars sit unlocked with keys in the ignition. Not mine, I moved here from Minneapolis and it is just habit to remove the keys. I seldom lock the car unless I'm going to leave it all day.

With my manual locks and windows, I can lock my car no mater what the key is doing. I can open or close a window without the key too! :)

Check oil at home during daylight hours for safety reasons. No sense poking your head under the hood at a poorly lit filling station, some thug might take advantage. Gas up and get out, pay attention to your surroundings. Be safe. Maybe its a big city American thing. (reminds me to get my CCW permit) :) Reminds me why I don't like the patriot door locks too... can't possible lock all doors with keys in the ignition. I like to lock the doors to keep the family safe while gassing up the ride, can't do with the patriot - and there are no door lock buttons on the passenger door for the wife to push. (crappy design)
.

Wow, I didn't realize Denver was that bad.

We never even lock the house up around here unless we are going away or something. I guess things are different in the Big Cities.

never lock doors here unless we are gone,been allover the states with no problem.

Check oil at home during daylight hours for safety reasons. No sense poking your head under the hood at a poorly lit filling station, some thug might take advantage.

It is quite possible to keep aware of your surroundings while checking the oil level. It's not that complicated. Hey, if even I can do it... ;)

I like to lock the doors to keep the family safe while gassing up the ride, can't do with the patriot - and there are no door lock buttons on the passenger door for the wife to push. (crappy design)

The wife can simply reach over and use the driver's side button, the same way my girlfriend does. ;) Agreed on the design though, definitely should be possible to lock all doors from the passenger side too.

Check oil every now and then, it's a new vehicle, shouldn't be losing much oil.

Should not. Conditional. If it would happen to be a new, malfunctioning engine, it would be nice to know something is wrong before serious problems appear (on that little snow-covered track out in the middle of nowhere, probably...). Which is why I did check the oil during every fill-up when I first got my Jeep. Agreed though, now that I've driven it for several thousand kilometers without any sign of trouble, I just check the oil every 1000km or so.

(reminds me to get my CCW permit) :)

You know, for the life of me, I will never, ever understand you folks with this attitude. You live in a place that issues CCW licenses, you think it would be a good thing to have one, and yet you don't have one?!? If I had the opportunity, I would run, not walk, to fill out the paperwork. (Cue hippie whining about how nothing bad ever happens to anyone and therefore having the capability to defend yourself is utterly unnecessary - and in fact a bad thing due to some bizarre, twisted logic of theirs - in 3... 2... 1...)

Things are not that bad in Denver, but again, why take chances? Don't do anything or go anywhere to put yourself in a situation you might regret. Why walk down a dark alley when there is a perfectly well lit sidewalk that takes you to the same place?

CCW - well, it's not just as easy as filling out an application to get it, you must take a registered handgun course, pay $150 for it, fill out the paperwork and hope they give it to you...

Isn't Colorado a shall issue state? In other words, if you fulfill the requirements and they can't give a reason why not to issue a permit (criminal record, etc.), they must issue it? As I've understood it, take the course, fill out the application, you're done. Does not sound so bad to me. (Okay, I'm a fan of the Vermont system, but... :) )

And yeah, it's not the chances, but the stakes. :)

In Colorado I thought it was still up the the county sheriff to decide if they even wanted to issue ccw permits or not. If they choose not to, you don't get one. But if the Sheriff says ok in their county, and you pass all the requirements, it's a go... (i think) I'll investigate a little this next week while on vacation.

I don't need to carry a gun to feel safe. Isn't this a thread about checking oil?

I suppose a guy could shoot a gun down the dipstick hole and see it there is a splash! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I suppose a guy could shoot a gun down the dipstick hole and see it there is a splash! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Now yer talkin'

I don't need to carry a gun to feel safe. Isn't this a thread about checking oil?

Me either, that's what the Karate classes are for...

Concealed weapons and your feeee-eeeeeelings really don't have much at all in common.

Actually, Tony, packing is all about the feeling of security. And I agree that if you really want to feel safe, take a martial arts class and learn to be aware of your surroundings.

Actually, Tony, packing is all about the feeling of security. And I agree that if you really want to feel safe, take a martial arts class and learn to be aware of your surroundings.

Aware of my surroundings.

That is the problem I have with concealed weapons. I don't care if I guy packs heat, I just want it holstered where I can see it so I can make an informed personal decision about where I want to be in relation to the guns and the people who have them.

OK this was about the poor design of the dipstick hole but now I have another observation about the gas door.

What is the deal with the gas filler door? most cars have a little hook to hang the gas cap tether over when filling so the cap won't scratch the side of the car. On the (my) Patriot, the little hook is on the bottom of the door. Like the door was designed to go on the other side of the car. Did they just use a door they had designed for a different vehicle where the filler neck was on the passenger side? You can still kind of put the tether over the hook, but it still won't keep the cap from touching the side of the car. :doh:

My 2007 patriot has a hook - it's a little tab that is sticking out on the door, just hang the cap from it... doesn't seem to hit the side of the jeep??

OK this was about the poor design of the dipstick hole but now I have another observation about the gas door.

What is the deal with the gas filler door? most cars have a little hook to hang the gas cap tether over when filling so the cap won't scratch the side of the car. On the (my) Patriot, the little hook is on the bottom of the door. Like the door was designed to go on the other side of the car. Did they just use a door they had designed for a different vehicle where the filler neck was on the passenger side? You can still kind of put the tether over the hook, but it still won't keep the cap from touching the side of the car. :doh:


i agree its in an odd location. probably should be up farther and a bit larger but it works i guess.