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[Entwood]

but one I don't know the answer to....

What datums are used to declare an omega "level" ...

Some know that both my garage approach (not big enough to be called a drive !), and the road outside the house, have a significant slope. If I'm to properly check the gearbox oil and the diff oil levels the car needs to be level...

Where do I place the spirit level to achieve this in both fore & aft and side to side aspects ?? Side to side I'm guessing is not too critical so maybe front/rear bumper top edges... but fore/aft ?? sills?? door trims ?? boot floor ?? Anyone any suggestions ??

Ta 

[Nick W]

You're worrying too much. Put the spirit-level away, and just do the job on flat, level ground. That will be good enough.


And if I was going to worry about it, the fillers are on the side of very shallow sumps, so the side-to-side angle is at least as important as front-to-back. The crown of the road outside my house is enough for my estate not to start when the fuel level is low.

[Bigron]

Hi Nige. I've been reading your saga with interest and sympathy; at least there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel!
I don't know the definitive answer to your question, but thinkong about how the cars were made and how they are supposed to sit, my guess would be the sills? Open door, place spirit level on sill and cross your fingers. I would confirm "levelness" by checking front and rear sills both sides.
Also, the boot floor ought to have been manufactured to be level: the bumpers are subject to variations due to fitting and/or possible afterwork, so maybe not reliable?

Ron.

[robson]

Have you got an mot in the near future. Get the garage to check the oils whilst the car is on the lift. Checking the gear box oil is not easy unless you are very thin.When I see these large 4x4s with all that clearance underneath I think how lucky they are.

[sassanach]

You're worrying too much. Put the spirit-level away, and just do the job on flat, level ground. That will be good enough.


And if I was going to worry about it, the fillers are on the side of very shallow sumps, so the side-to-side angle is at least as important as front-to-back. The crown of the road outside my house is enough for my estate not to start when the fuel level is low.

this.

[ronnyd]

Have you got an mot in the near future. Get the garage to check the oils whilst the car is on the lift. Checking the gear box oil is not easy unless you are very thin.When I see these large 4x4s with all that clearance underneath I think how lucky they are.

[/highlight]
Apart from the sky high road tax, sorry, VED, that is.

[tigers_gonads]

If you really want to play with a spirit level, the best place imho would be the front door step on top of the sill with one end hard up against the B pillar.
But tbh, Mk1 eyeball will do suffice   

[amba]

Just to give you an answer how I did mine when checked both diff and gearbox.

My drive has quite a slope form front to back but is flat across side to side,so with back wheels off ground by around 150mm I got car level.Used a 1.8mtr spirit level on a 3.0mtr ali straight edge taking level measurement from centre of each wheel.Expect you would get the same level with a taught string with some means of securing it to the wheel in the same place from back to front.

But agree with all above that a bit out wouldnt make much difference either way,and much easier checked at MOT time for a few cups of tea

[Doctor Gollum]

Breather bridge on plenum

[biggriffin]

In a previous life.,our workshop had a set up floor, this area was sq, and level, the cars were put on wheels which were "true", they were then placed on weigh pads, which were level.
You could put a level on a car and it would not be level due to difference in suspension heights,.
You can,buy aluminum set up floors.

[johnnydog]

My drive has a slope, but I find this very useful when doing jobs under a car. When changing oil etc, the car can be jacked up so it's level, and then there is sufficient room underneath to access all that is needed. You just have to ensure the car is safely chocked before getting underneath, of course!
I use my line of sight to ensure the car is as level as necessary, looking from a reasonable distance and lining the whole body of the car up with adjacent fencing, or the tops of windows or guttering on neighbours houses. These should be level enough to line the car up with, and whenever I've checked the levels after on level surfaces, they have always been correct.

[iansoutham]

As a quick answer as to datum points, may I suggest to anyone removing the rear seat bench and using the support member that runs under the front of it as it will be level across the car.

[TD]

Easy answer to this.....

Drive to the Sally Pusey pub.....car park is fairly flat.....check levels.....go for a pint 

[robson]

I just cant see how you can do these checks when it is almost impossible to get under the car.I think that it must be lifted in some way to give access. I still think it is worth getting it done when the car is on a lift and it is safer.

[Andy B]

I just cant see how you can do these checks when it is almost impossible to get under the car. .....

dead easy to get a car onto ramps &/or axle stands safely ... assuming on level ground